Process for the industrial retting and ennobling of long-stalked vegetable textile fibres, and particularly of hemp, flex and ramie

摘要

Long-stalked plants such as hemp, flax, or ramie are tested with sodium carbonate or bicarbonate or sodium borate to separate fibres from the woody material. A mechanical treatment is referred to and subsequent treatments with calcium hypochlorite alone and mixed with sodium carbonate, with soap and with acid also are mentioned. It is stated that the woody core separated from the fibres may be used for paper pulp or for making alcohol. A sediment is also obtained which yields a fertilizer. The process is also said to be applicable to animal fibre (wool and silk).