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Turning Corn Husks into Sustainable Textiles

Date:8 April 2014

Country: United States

Plant Name:

    Corn

Residue Name:

    Shells/Husk

End Products

Textile and apparel

yarn for fanrics

Application

  • Sustainable Textile Production: Using corn husks to create eco-friendly yarn for fabric, reducing reliance on synthetic fibers.

Description

A team at the University of Nebraska is developing textiles from corn husks by separating lignocellulose fibers and spinning them into yarn. This innovation aims to create sustainable fibers to meet the growing global demand for textiles. The project leverages agricultural waste, particularly corn husks, which are more stretchable than other cellulose fibers. The initiative seeks to reduce reliance on synthetic fibers and promote a circular economy by utilizing farm byproducts.

 

 

Pathway Description:

The process of extracting lignocellulose fibers from corn husks involves pretreatment, mechanical separation, and fiber spinning. Pretreatment breaks down the complex biopolymers, while mechanical separation isolates the fibers for further refinement. The fibers are spun into yarn suitable for textiles, which can be blended with materials like polyester for enhanced properties. This sustainable method upcycles agricultural waste, reducing environmental impact and creating value-added products.

 

 

Source: Know More...

Tags: Corn Husk FiberSustainable TextilesEco Friendly Fabrics

End Products

Textile and apparel

yarn for fanrics

Feedstock

Types of Feedstock

Secondary agricultural residue

Name

Corn husks

Form

Solid biomass

Logistics

Collected during corn harvest using specialized husking equipment

Characteristics

High stretchability

Pathways

Mechanical

fiber extraction,spinning

Stakeholders

Educational Institution

University of Nebraska