[DESCRIPTION] [Invention Tit Ie]

A METHOD OF REMOVING HEMP BAST PECTIN USING MICROORGANISM

[Technical Field]

<i> The present invention relates to a method for extracting hemp bast using microorganisms, and more particularly to microorganisms, which are excellent in degumming pectin in hemp bast, and a method for extracting hemp bast using the cultivated microorganisms.

<2>

[Background Art]

<3> Historically, hemp fibers have been used by humans since 2,000 B.C. The most frequently used hemp fibers are ramie, flax, hemp and jute. Especially, the ramie, flax and hemp are used in the textile industry. When used in the textile industry, they can be made into summer clothing due to rapid heat radiation property, no sagging, and strong quality of the fibers when containing moisture. Additionally, the hemp fibers can also Ix; used as a material for paintings due to high moisture absorbency and rapid moisture evaporation property, and good oil absorbency.

<4> Conventionally, in order to use hemp as fibers, the hemp was shrunk and steamed, and then the bark was peeled off for drying to prepare bast. Then, the hemp bast was forcedly extracted using strong alkaline solutions such as caustic soda or soda ash.

<5> A method for producing a hemp yarn according to Korean Patent No. 10- 0275137 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. The method comprises cutting hemp into a predetermined length, inserting the prepared hemp into a container charged with a mixed solution of hydrochloric acid and a vegetable liquid to soak the hemp in the solution for a predetermined period of time, and then boiling the hemp at high temperatures to weaken the coherence between a bark-like layer and an inner layer (Sl); putting the hemp, whose coherence between the bark-like laver and inner laver is weakened, into a

scutcher and swingling to peel off the bark-like layer, and then soaking the inner layer in water for a predetermined period of time to dilute hydrochloric acid and a vegetable liquid (S2); dehydrating water contained in the inner layer and drying the inner layer completely with a small amount of a vegetable softener sprayed thereon (S3); putting the dried inner layer into the scutcher again and swingling to weaken the hardiness of the inner (S4): stacking the inner layer inside the shaded curing storage while spraying a vegetable softener, and then allowing the inner layer to naturally cure for a predetermined period of time for swelling the inner layer (So): thinly segmenting the swelled inner layer into fibers to separate long fibers and short fibers (S6); and making the long fibers and short fibers into a soft semi-cotton stale, respectively, and then spinning the hemp yarn (S7). In general, bast is a plurality of fiber cells cohered by impurities such as pectin. Thus, in order to obtain pure fibers from the hemp bast, the extraction of the hemp bast is carried out to selectively degum pectin, which is adhered between the cells, therebx degrading the unity of the bast. However, in the case of extracting bast by the above-mentioned method, alkaline soluble substances such as cellulose and heinicellulose are dissolved. The method further degrades cross-linkage of cellulose and further into a component of cellulose, glucose. Therefore, the cellulose is not durable but seissile. The cellulose also becomes yellowish-brown color and the glossiness is greatly deteriorated. Thus, spinning of the yarn cannot be achieved, and the quality of the fiber becomes deteriorated.

<6>

[Disclosure]

[Technical Problem]

<7> Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms comprising: immersing hemp bast in a microorganism culture solution, injecting oxygen periodically using an air compressor from the bottom, elevating a temperature of a

reaction bath to a predetermined temperature using a heating cable, and allowing microorganisms to digest pectin in the immersed hemp bast to effectively remove about 90% or more of pectin after a predetermined period of time without damaging the tissue.

<8>

[Technical Solution]

<9> In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of a method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms comprising: immersing hemp bast in a microorganism culture solution charged in a reaction bath, the reaction bath comprising a heating cable for providing a heat source, and a dispersion pipe having a plurality of dispersion nozzles installed on the bottom surface of the reaction bath and connected to an air compressor outside the bath; and mixing the microorganism culture solution and the hemp bast for 24 to 36 hours while maintaining a temperature in the reaction bath at 25 to 30 ^° C using the heating cable and dispersing oxygen periodically through the dispersion nozzles of the dispersion pipe to remove pectin in the hemp bast by using the pectin as a food for the microorganisms.

<io> The microorganisms used herein may be White-rot fungus, Blue-green algae, and Micrococcus roseus.

<π> The culture solution further includes nutrients for providing necessary nutrient elements in growth and proliferation of the microorganisms comprising lysozyme chloride, magnesium peroxide, and peroxidase enzymes.

[Advantageous Effects]

<i3> According to the present invention, pectin in hemp bast is used as food for microorganisms to remove the pectin effectively by reacting at a predetermined temperature and for a predetermined period of time, instead of a conventional method for forcedly removing pectin using strong alkaline solutions such as caustic soda or soda ash.

<14> Therefore, hemp bast having excellent absorbency, fiber length and drying tension can be provided, which has been impossible in the case of the conventional method.

<I5>

[Description of Drawings] <16> The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which■ ^' <17> FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a conventional method for producing a hemp yarn; <is> FIG. 2 is a view showing a process for extracting pure white fibers from hemp bast through the method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms according to the present invention; and <i9> FIG. 3 is a view showing a reaction bath used in the method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms according to the present invent ion.

<20>

[Best Mode]

<2i> The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanied drawings.

<22> FIG. 2 is a view showing a process for extracting pure white fibers from hemp bast through the method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms according to the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a view showing a reaction bath used in the method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms according to the present invention.

<23> As shown in FIGs. 2 and 3, the method for removing pectin in hemp bast using microorganisms according to the present invention comprises:

<24> immersing hemp bast in a microorganism culture solution 110 charged in a reaction bath 100,

<25> the reaction bath 100 comprising a heating cable 120 for providing a heat source, and a dispersion pipe 130 having a plurality of dispersion nozzles 132 installed on the bottom surface of the reaction bath and connected to an air compressor 140 outside the bath; and

<26> mixing the microorganism culture solution and the hemp bast for 24 to 36 hours while maintaining a temperature in the reaction bath at 25 to 30 ^° C using the heating cable 120 with power applied from a power supply 150 and dispersing oxygen periodically through the dispersion nozzles 132 of the dispersion pipe 130 to remove pectin in the hemp bast by using the pectin as a food for the microorganisms.

<27> At this time, the microorganisms are composed of White-rot fungus, Blue-green algae, and Micrococcus roseus. Moreover, the microorganism culture solution further includes nutrients for providing necessary nutrient elements in growth and proliferation of the microorganisms comprising lysozyme chloride, magnesium peroxide, and peroxidase enzymes. These nutrients serve as a biological accelerant for enhancing growth of microorganisms.

<28> Pectin is relatively weaker than the epidermal tissue, thus it can be used as a food source of microorganisms. This allows improvement in the degumming rate. Moreover, the efficiency of microorganisms used in a batch type work environment is low resulting difficulties in reuse. On the other hand, the microorganisms of the present invention can be reused for about 3 times, thus the present invention is economically excellent.

<29> Providing oxygen periodically from the dispersion nozzles 132 of the dispersion pipe 130 is performed to maintain the microorganism culture solution 110 charged in the reaction bath 100 in a flowing state instead of a suspended state. This allows the microorganism culture solution 110 to mix effectively with the immersed hemp bast.

<30> When the microorganism culture solution 110 is mixed with the hemp bast, pectin in hemp bast is used as a food for the microorganisms to thereby remove about 90% or more of the pectin.

<3i> Furthermore, since the hemp bast is extracted using microorganisms instead of the conventional forced extraction using strong alkaline solutions such as caustic soda or soda ash, pure white hemp bast without any tissue damage can be obtained.

<32> Referring to FIG. 2, (A) is hemp bast which was not subjected to extraction, (B) is hemp bast which was subjected to extraction for 12 hours by immersing in the microorganism culture solution 110 charged in the reaction bath 100, and (C) is hemp bast which was subjected to extraction for 20 hours by immersing in the microorganism culture solution 110 charged in the reaction bath 100.

<33> Therefore, in order to obtain pure white hemp bast without any tissue damage as shown in (D) of FIG. 2, at least 24 to 36 hours is required.

<34> Meanwhile, the reaction bath 100 is made of a wood material or fiber glass reinforced plastic (FRP) instead of a metal material.

<35> Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.