Fibers

• Fibers are natural or synthetic thread-like structures valued for strength, flexibility, and diverse applications.
• Fibers play a key role in textiles, medicine, and industry, ensuring durability, comfort, and utility.

1. Cotton

• Synonyms:

  • Absorbent cotton
  • Purified cotton

• Biological Source:

  • Derived from the seed hairs of:
    • Gossypium hirsutum
    • Gossypium arboreum
    • Gossypium barbadense
    • Gossypium herbaceum

• Family:

  • Malvaceae

• Geographical Source:

  • Cultivated in India, USA, China, Egypt, Brazil, Pakistan

• Chemical Nature & Constituents:

  • Cellulose (90-94
  • Waxes, pectin, fats, proteins, minerals

• Identification Tests:

  • Iodine-Zinc Chloride Test:
    • Turns blue-violet indicating the presence of cellulose.
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  • Burning Test:
    • Burns with a smell of burning paper and leaves no bead.
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• Uses:

  • Surgical dressings, bandages, and filtration media
  • Pharmaceutical applications as a filter and excipient
  • Textile industry for clothing and fabrics

2. Jute

• Synonyms:

  • Hessian fiber
  • Gunny fiber

• Biological Source:

  • Obtained from the bast fibers of:
    • Corchorus capsularis
    • Corchorus olitorius
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• Family:

  • Malvaceae

• Geographical Source:

  • Grown in India, Bangladesh, China, Nepal, Thailand, Brazil

• Chemical Nature & Constituents:

  • Cellulose (60-70
  • Lignin (12-14
  • Hemicellulose, pectin
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• Identification Tests:

  • Solubility Test:
    • Insoluble in water and most organic solvents.
  • Burning Test:
    • Burns quickly with the smell of burning paper.
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• Uses:

  • Gunny bags, ropes, carpets, and eco-friendly packaging
  • Biodegradable sutures and bandages in medicinal applications

3. Hemp

• Synonyms:

  • Industrial hemp
  • True hemp

• Biological Source:

  • Obtained from Cannabis sativa (bast fibers of the plant)

• Family:

  • Cannabaceae

• Geographical Source:

  • Cultivated in China, Canada, Russia, France, USA, India

• Chemical Nature & Constituents:

  • Cellulose (70-77
  • Lignin (4-10
  • Trace amounts of cannabinoids

• Identification Tests:

  • Solubility Test:
    • Insoluble in water and alcohol.
  • Microscopic Test:
    • Presence of thick-walled fibers with a central lumen.

• Uses:

  • Textile, ropes, paper, biodegradable plastics
  • Medicinal applications in wound dressings

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