Method of extraction of fibres.

Abstract

A method of obtaining long flexible textile fibres from species of palm trees. The method includes the combined steps of treating stems to delignify them by application of an alkali solution wherein the alkali solution may be a sodium hydroxide solution. Followed by scraping the treated stems to mechanically remove the noncellulosic matrix and fibrillate the fibre vascular bundles by application of a blunt scraper blade. The step may comprise soaking stems in an alkali solution at a temperature t where t is in the range of : t = -4.82(c*d) + 92.3 °C + / - 12.5°C, where c is the concentration of sodium hydroxide in %, or pH equivalent, and d the duration of treatment in hours.