Effect of xylanase enzyme on mechanical properties of fibres extracted from undried and dried corn husks

Fibres have been extracted from corn husks in undried and dried forms by an alkalization treatment followed by enzymatic process at different concentrations of xylanase enzyme. The effects of drying process and xylanase enzyme concentration on the mechanical and textile properties of corn husk fibres have been investigated. The linear density of extracted fibres decreases with the increase in enzyme concentration and drying. Increasing enzyme concentration increases the breaking tenacity and initial modulus up to a point and then decreases them with any further increase in concentration. Fibres obtained from dried husks show dull colour as compared to those obtained from undried husks. No negative effect of drying process is observed on the performance of corn husk fibres. The highest tensile performance and fineness values are obtained from fibres of dried husks, treated with 0.4% Pentopan (R) mono BG enzyme, with a breaking tenacity of 9.44 cN/tex, initial modulus value of 282 cN/tex, and a fineness of 21.6 tex.