Analysis of Structural Changes in Jute Fibers after Peracetic Acid Treatment

Peracetic acid (PAA) is one of the most commonly used bleaching agents in the textile industry. The structural changes of jute fibers after PAA treatment are important in creating industrial applications. An investigation was carried out to determine the structural changes resulting from the removal of noncellulosic materials from jute fibers by PAA. The surface features of jute fiber were studied using a scanning electron microscope. PAA was effective in separateingindividual cellulose fibers from raw jute. However, fibers were damaged when the treatment time reached 80 minutes, PAA concentration was 10 wt. % and the pH was in the 4~5 range. The delignification by PAA treatment was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. CP/MAS 13 C-NMR spectroscopy showed that the PAA did cause some macromolecular structure changes in the cellulose fibers. X-ray diffraction technique demonstrated that there were four stages of crystallinity change, due to the removal of noncellulosic materials. These four stages include attack at the surfaces of cellulose crystallites, the dissolution of amorphous zones, attack of the inner cellulose crystallite and oxygen interference, respectively.