This silde is about 'Kenaf Fiber' made by Samiun Ahammed, Student of Textile engineering, BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology, Batch: 182

1. KENAF
Introduction: Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) is a fiber plant native to east-central Africa where it has been
grown for several thousand years for food and fiber. It is a common wild plant of tropical and subtropical
Africa and Asia. It has been a source of textile fiber for such products as rope, twine, bagging and rugs.
Kenaf is a promising source of raw material fiber for pulp, paper and other fiber products, and has been
introduced since WWII in China, USSR, Thailand, South Africa, Egypt, Mexico and Cuba.
Research in the United States to use the kenaf bast (outer bark) fibers for rope began in the 1940's when jute
imports from Asia were interrupted by World War II. In the 1950's, the Agricultural Research Service
(ARS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture screened more than 500 plant species as potential fiber sources
for pulp and paper manufacturing. As a result, kenaf was selected as the most promising nonwood fiber
plant for this use. Continued research resulted in the development of high yielding, anthracnose resistant
varieties. Today, research and development continues, primarily in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and
Southeastern U.S.A., with emphasis on development for newsprint manufacture.
Order: Malvales
Family: Malvaceae
Genus: Hibiscus
Species: Hibiscus cannabinus
Characteristics: It is an annual or biennial herbaceous plant (rarely a short-lived perennial) growing to 1.5-
3.5 m tall with a woody base. The stems are 1–2 cm diameter, often but not always branched. The leaves are
10–15 cm long, variable in shape, with leaves near the base of the stems being deeply lobed with 3-7 lobes,
while leaves near the top of the stem are shallowly lobed or unlobed lanceolate. The flowers are 8–15 cm
diameter, white, yellow, or purple; when white or yellow, the centre is still dark purple. The fruit is
a capsule 2 cm diameter, containing several seeds. Kenaf is one of the allied fibres of jute and shows similar
characteristics.
Chemical Structure:
Physical Structure of Kenaf:

2. Chemical Composition of Kenaf:
Physical Poperties of Kenaf:
Uses of kenaf and kenaf products
1.0 Pulp, paper and cardboard (from wet way process).
1.1
Standard newsprint containing between 90% and 100% chemi-
thermo-mechanical pulp.
1.2
Standard newsprint from mixes of KCTMP pulp and de-inked
pulp from retted paper.
1.3
Newsprint from mixes of kenaf thermo-mechanical pulp (KTMP)
and wood pulp from Southern Pine.
1.4
Super-calendered writing and printing paper from mixtures
containing KTMP pulp.

3. 1.5 Various types of writing and printing paper containing KTMP.
1.6 Fine coated paper from mixtures containing KTMP.
1.7 Various types of tissue paper containing KTMP pulp.
1.8
Sulphate pulp (Kraft) from the whole kenaf stem and from
separated fibres.
1.9
Chemical pulp from the whole kenaf stem or from separated
fibres obtained using processes other than Kraft.
1.1
0
Linerboard, corrugated board made from kenaf pulp (from
mechanical or chemical processes using both the whole kenaf
stem or separated fibres).
1.1
1
Lining for roofs in feltpaper.
1.1
2
Hardboard panels made from whole stems or separated fibres.
1.1
3
Cellulose for chemical uses.
1.1
4
Handmade art paper from whole kenaf stems or just from
separated fibres.
2.0 Panels (dry processes using moldable fibre mattresses).
2.1
Moldable fibre mattresses for industrial uses from Kenaf bast
fibre.
2.2 Natural molded fibres for interior panels for cars and planes.
2.3
Rigid molded products: boxes, trays, drums, pallets etc. for the
packing, stowage and shipment of industrial products.
2.4
Pressed board and other materials for use in the furniture and
construction industries.
2.5 Compressed insulating panels.
2.6 Decorative wall panels.
2.7
Linings in compressed fibre for doors and other decorative
applications (architectural).
3.0 Traditional cordage uses
3.1
Padding material (to substitute jute and kenaf imported from
Asia).
3.2 String, rope and cord to substitute imported cordage.
3.3 Material for mattresses and furniture.
3.4
Bast fibre mattresses impregnated with grass seeds and absorbent
agents for "instant lawns".
3.5
Bast fibre mattresses combined with spray mulching products to
control terrain erosion.
4.0 Mass uses as absorbent agent.
4.1 Animal litter.
4.2 Horticulture and flower-growing products.
4.3 Cleaning up of liquid leakages from plants in industrial areas.
4.4 Cleaning of industrial flooring.
4.5 Additive for drilling muds in oil wells.
4.6 Filtering products.
4.7 Compost from sullage.
5.0 Packing materials.
5.1
Inert, natural and biodegradable filler, used instead of polystyrene
foam.
5.2 Wrapping for gifts and handicraft products.
6.0 Natural fuels.

4. 6.1
Biomass for burning in various forms (powder, core fibre and
waste in general).
6.2
Production of ethyl alcohol and other chemical products using
ligno-cellulose conversion technologies.
6.3
Production of ethyl alcohol from animal litter using ligno-
cellulose conversion technologies.
7.0 Cellulose products.
7.1 Natural core and bast filters.
7.2
Kenaf powders (in the specific field of application of wood
powders).
8.0 Animal fodder and feed.
8.1 Green plant used as fodder.
8.2
By-products from the lingo-cellulose conversion process of
animal litter for the production of alcohol.
8.3
Biomass for the production of feed by means of wood fungus
inoculation.
8.4
By-product of inoculated biomass (exhausted subsoil) for the
production of edible mushrooms.
9.0 Use of the seeds.
9.1 Production of selected seeds for kenaf cultivators.
9.2 Production of oil and extraction panels.
9.3 Middlings for birdfeed (kenaf seeds with poor germination).
10.
0
Use of the biomass.
10.
1
Biomass for the production of edible mushrooms.

5. Cultivation Procces of Kenaf:
Kenaf hibiscus (Hibiscus cannabinus) is also commonly called brown Indian hemp. This annual hibiscus
blooms two to three months after planting or when the day length shortens to 12 1/2 hours per day,
depending on the cultivar. The funnel-shaped flowers feature red or pale yellow to off-white petals. Kenaf
hibiscus grows to a height of 6 to 22 feet and may or may not develop branches, depending on the cultivar,
seed spacing and growing conditions. Choose a sunny planting area where the kenaf hibiscus will be
exposed to at least six hours of direct light daily.
1
Remove all of the weeds growing at the planting site. Spread a 2 to 4 inch-layer of leaf mold, peat moss,
well-aged manure and compost over the soil along with 1/2 pound of 15-8-12 fertilizer per 50 square feet of
planting area. Use a shovel or tiller to turn the soil and mix the amendments in thoroughly to a depth of eight
to 10 inches.
2
Clear away large clumps of dirt and stones. The soil must be loose with a fine texture. Kenaf hibiscus grows
best in sandy or sandy loam soil that drains quickly. Add perlite to improve the draining capabilities of clay
soil or build a 4- to 5-inch high raised planting bed.
3
Sow the seeds 1 1/2 to 2 inches deep. Plant them 5 to 6 inches apart for branchless plants or 2 to 3 feet apart
for branched plants. Space multiple rows 3 to 4 feet apart. Water the freshly planted seeds thoroughly to
ensure good soil contact.

6. 4
Continue to water the seeds as often as necessary to keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate and for the
first month or so until they become well-established. Kenaf hibiscuses grow long taproots and are drought-
tolerant but grow best with supplemental water.
5
Reduce watering frequency to once or twice per week after the first month but water them generously.
6
Spread a 2- to 3-inch depth of organic mulch around the plants after they germinate to help keep the soil
moist.
7
Prune the plants back by as much as one-third to one-half with sharp pruners to maintain smaller plants and
encourage branching. Cut them above a growth bud or eye. Leave them unpruned to promote flower
production; only older branches will produce flowers.