Research and Development

Increased Production Efficiency in Small-holder  Kenaf Production Systems for Specific Industrial Applications

The activities are being implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in Bangladesh, China and Malaysia.

The total cost of the project is USD  3,204,177

The main objectives of the research are:

• To select suitable germplasm with advantageous yield, yield contributing traits and specific fibre characteristics as required for specific applications viz. paper pulp, fibre boards, composites and possible other industrial uses.

• To develop/adapt suitable mechanical and biological primary processing steps to increase process efficiency and fibre quality and to reduce costs and environmental  footprint.

• To evaluate and select cultivars/ varieties in laboratory and/or pilot /full scale trials depending on the appli-cation to ascertain its suitability in the specific contexts.

• To increase and stabilize supply of kenaf fibre material according to demand of industrial end-users.           

Development and Application of Potentially Important Jute Geotextiles

The project activities are being implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in Bangladesh and India.

The total cost of the project is USD  3,962,826

The main objectives of the project are:

• To lead to the commercial acceptability of potentially important jute geotextiles (JGT) suitable for use in two identified end-uses namely soil erosion control and rural road construction in the context of conditions prevalent in Bangladesh and India. The results to be extrapolated to conditions in other (potential market) countries of the world.

• To develop material specifications, field application / installation protocols and design methodologies for these applications in compliance with requirements and standards set by public and private sector users.

Biotechnological Application of Enzymes for making Pulp and Paper from Green Jute/Kenaf (the whole plant)

The project was implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in Bangladesh, China, France, India and The Netherlands.

The total cost of the project is USD  1,493,260

The Summery of findings and outcome of the project:

• Jute and kenaf (whole plant) are suitable raw materials for the production of pulp and paper by the Soda-AQ and Kraft processes.

• Various grades of paper (wrapp-ing and writing paper) can be produced in the chemical process.

• Newsprint grade of paper can be produced by mechanical pulping in APMP process.

• Bio- pulp was found to require less chemicals in bleaching.

• Bio-pulping showed promising results in the reduction of energy &

• chemical requirements with improved physical properties of pulp.

• Bio-pulping technologies are effective in small-scale paper mills, manually operated jute based paper mills and in mechanical pulping (esp. in the APMP process).

• Large scale commercial trials were successfully conducted at BCIC, CPPRI and CTP.

Jute Reinforced Polyolefines for Industrial Applications: Phase II: Material Optimisation and Process Up-scaling for Commercialisation

The project was implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in Bangladesh and India.

The total cost of the project is USD  USD 441,000

The Summery of findings and outcome of the project:

Jute:PP (50:50) granules have been successfully prepared which were used to produce some items like Electric Extension Cable Cover at BITAC and house hold items at a plastic factory in Kolkata through injection molding process. Targeted products like Cloth Hangers, Buckets, Crates, Boxes, garden implements, garbage collector etc. with proper  justification.

Study in the Residual Silica/Silicate in Raw Jute and Scope for Elimination/ Reduction

The project was implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in Bangladesh and India.

The total cost of the project is USD  USD USD 45,000.

The Summery of findings and outcome of the project:

• The study has revealed and confirmed that the intrinsic silica content in jute is very negligible. That jute sometimes containing

• silica above acceptable limit of 0.02% is mainly due to external contamination.

• This is again possible to be reduced by simple washing and a simple sequence of chemical treatments which has been described in the PCR.

• A Protocol on ‘Making Jute Free from Silica Contamination’ was printed in three languages i.e. English, Bangla and Hindi.

Designing of New Metallic Card Clothing for Jute Cards

The project was implemented as per approved work plan and activity schedule in IJIRA, Kolkata & Milltex, Coimbatore, India.

The total cost of the project is USD 62,421.85

The main objectives of the project were:

• To introduce metallic card clothing in lieu of staves ensuring that the fibres are fed into carding machine and taken from it processed.

• To control the fibre effectively from feed to delivery and thereby achieve better quality sliver

• Take out fed fibre in well-carded condition quicker to increase production

• To obtain reduced coefficient of variation (CV) percentage than staves

• To reduce loss of good fibre by offering proper degree of carding 

• To understand the possibility of introducing carding elements for better carding

Apparel

Conventionally it was not possible to produce jute yarn finer than 172 tex.  But recent developments have made it possible to produce yarn up to 60 tex (1.75 lb/spy) out of 100% jute and jute blended with cotton, wool, flax, acrylic, rayon, silk etc.  This type of jute yarn has the prospect of being used in high quality jute textiles, particularly in apparel viz., trousers, top apparels, waistcoats, outer jackets, etc.

At present a few industries are producing finer yarns of jute and union fabrics (with cotton warp and jute weft), in a limited scale, for using in top apparels (waistcoats, sleeveless jackets etc.).

Absorbent Cotton Substitute

Ideal absorbent cotton substitute can be produced from jute/jute wastes by scouring, hot mercerizing-bleaching, activating and then blending with cotton/rayon. The absorbent cotton substitute can be used for making gauze, bandage, baby napkin and sanitary towel etc. The technology is under pilot scale trial at the moment.