Identification of hydrophobic components in cambodian kapok fiber

Abstract

Hydrophobic property of Kapok fiber was investigated by sequential removal of its components by different extraction methods. Acetone extraction for the removal of the hydrophobic extractives, holo-cel-lulose preparation after the removal of lignin and xylan extraction by potassium hydroxide was applied. The degree of hydrophobicity of each samples were measured by the water sorption ability. The water sorption ability of Kapok fiber was increased by the sequential treatment of acetone extraction, holocellulose preparation and xylan removal. Based on holocellulose compositional analysis by 1H-NMR spectroscopic method, the unusual high amount of the acetyl groups in the holocellulose of Kapok partially contributed to the hydrophobicity of Kapok holocellulose fiber.