Abstract:
Laboratory rets set by soaking the coconut husk in water were monitored by physico-chemical analysis of leachate and husk. Increasing amounts of pectins and phenols were leached in ret liquor during a period of 9 days of soaking. A GLC analysis revealed the presence of various aromatic p-hydroxy-phenolic and methoxy compounds, such as benzoic, p-hydroxybenzoic, veratric, gentisic, syringic, p-coumaric, vanillic and cinnamic acids in ret liquor, ret liquor supplemented with Fusarium solani and controls. Aeration turned the leachate and the fibre brown in colour. Pectins, phenols, Klason and milled wood lignin (MWL) and cellulose contents of soaked husk varied disproportionately. Tensile strength and the diameters of the fibres varied widely; the soaked husk gave softer fibre than the unsoaked ones.
