• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.210-218
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• 2011

The structure of kapok fiber was characterized using FTIR and $^{13}C$-NMR spectrometers, elemental analyzer, x-ray diffractometer, SEM and IMT I-Solution ver 7.5. The kapok has a hollow tube shape and is composed of cellulose I with crystallinity of 47.95%. To develop novel oil-sorbent materials necessary to avoid the environmental pollution by spilled oil, the oil absorption capacity of various fibers such as kapok, polypropylene(PP), acryl, bamboo, cotton, rayon and wool fibers is compared in this study. The kapok fiber had the highest oil absorption capacity among the fibers and its water absorption capacity was the least. The kapok fiber selectively absorbed significant amounts of oils (43g/g of fiber for kerosene, 65g/g of fiber for soybean oil), which might be due to higher hydrophobicity of the kapok fiber, suggesting that kapok fiber may have high potential as excellent oil-absorbent materials.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.44-50
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• 2020

In this study, pre-treatment was performed on kapok, a hydrophobic fiber, to compare dyeability by hydrophilization. The pretreatment conditions of kapok fiber were used with different amounts of sodium oleate(NaO), a fatty acid-based anionic surfactant, and xanthan gum(XG) as a natural thickener. At this time, NaO and XG were separately or mixed treated with 0.01%, 0.1%, 1% aqueous solution at 80℃ for 30 min. Hydrophilicity through dyeing was confirmed using Sappan wood extract. Therefore, SEM observation was performed to investigate the surface change of kapok fiber according to the conditions. The surface color difference was also analyzed. Pretreated kapok fibers were made from nonwoven fabrics and the contact angles were measured to determine their hydrophilization. The surface of the fiber after pretreatment was found to be cracked when NaO and NaO were mixed with XG. The surface color was the highest in a^⁎ and K/S values after the simultaneous treatment of NaO and XG, followed by NaO pretreatment and XG pretreatment. The contact angle of kapok fiber made of nonwoven fabric was slightly lower at 300g/㎡ than the fabric weight of 150g/㎡. Such hydrophilized nonwoven kapok fiber are expected to be used in various fields.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.45 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2013

The effets of the pretreatments of tropical kapok fibers were evaluated in this study in terms of water sorption capacity and oil sorption capacity. The alkali treatments with NaOH resulted in the reduction of lignin, oil and hemicellulose, which were detected with FT-IR spectrum. The reduction of the lyphophilic components such as fat on kapok fiber by the ozone treatments were also measured with FT-IR spectrum. The oil sorption capacity of kapok fiber was decreased by the alkali treatments and the ozone treatments, while the water sorption capacity was increased. The liquid sorption capacity were greatly affected by the mechanical cutting of kapok fiber which exposed the big lumen of kapok fiber. The hydrophilic property of kapok fiber could be controlled by the pretreatments, which would increase the applicability of kapok fiber for preparation of various functional paper products.

• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.393-401
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• 2018

Natural fibers derived from lignocellulosic materials are considered to be more environment-friendly than petroleum-based synthetic fibers. Several natural fibers, such as seedpod fibers, have a potential for development, including kapok and balsa fibers. The characteristics of both fibers were evaluated to determine their suitability for specific valuable applications. The purpose of this study was to analyze some important fundamental properties of kapok and balsa fibers, including their dimensions, morphology, chemical components, and wettability. The results showed that the average fiber lengths for kapok and balsa were 1.63 and 1.30 cm, respectively. Kapok and balsa fibers had thin cell walls and large lumens filled with air. The kapok fiber was composed of 38.09% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 14.09% lignin, and 2.34% wax content, whereas the balsa fiber was composed 44.62% ${\alpha}-cellulose$, 16.60% lignin, and 2.29% wax content. The characteristics of kapok and balsa fibers were examined by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry analyses. The contact angle of the distilled water on kapok and balsa fibers was more than $90^{\circ}$, indicating that both fibers are hydrophobic with low wettability properties because of to the presence of wax on the fiber surface.

• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.30-36
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• 2013

Hydrophobic property of Kapok fiber was investigated by sequential removal of its components by different extraction methods. Acetone extraction for the removal of the hydrophobic extractives, holo-cel-lulose preparation after the removal of lignin and xylan extraction by potassium hydroxide was applied. The degree of hydrophobicity of each samples were measured by the water sorption ability. The water sorption ability of Kapok fiber was increased by the sequential treatment of acetone extraction, holocellulose preparation and xylan removal. Based on holocellulose compositional analysis by $^1H$-NMR spectroscopic method, the unusual high amount of the acetyl groups in the holocellulose of Kapok partially contributed to the hydrophobicity of Kapok holocellulose fiber.

• Textile Coloration and Finishing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.230-236
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• 2014

The kapok fibers which are the functional fiber materials having natural hollows are environment friendly materials the demand and interest of which are increasing. The kapok fibers are environment friendly and natural hollow fibers which are 5-8 times lighter than cottons and have excellent performances in thermo keeping property, air permeability, bulkiness and resilience. In this study, the pretreatment according to the dyeing behaviors of kapok fibers were studied. Pretreatment(scouring, bleaching) were a variety of conditions. Scouring and bleaching, images of changed surfaces and cross-sections and dyeing behaviors of the dye-o-meter according to the concentration measured in meters and compared. Although the final exhaustion ratio of the kapok fibers scoured with a high concentration recipe was almost as same as that of the kapok fibers bleached with a high concentration recipe, the initial absorption speed of the kapok fibers scoured with the high concentration recipe was faster than that of the kapok fibers bleached with the high concentration recipe.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.316-325
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• 2012

In this study, we suggested adequate control technology by analyzing emission process and main chemical of VOC/HAPs generated from four paint factories in Busan area. And we estimated whether Kapok fiber, which is a natural material, can be commercially used for an absorbent by testing adsorption ability. As a result of this sturdy, above 60% of VOC/HAPs was volatilized and dispersed inside the working place without conducting control system of facilities during manufacturing paints. Concentration profile of VOC/HAPs, which is volatile naturally outside the factories, is surveyed above 70% at Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene. And a result of evaluation of odor attribution level about the component whose Odor Threshold is known, it is estimated that major cause material of A, B, C factories is Toluene and that of D factory is m/p-Xylene. And that result presented design arguments such as facilities specifications, activated carbon filling volume, and replace cycle of activated carbon as control technology. Also, that result presented emission process improvement such as adsorption of central-controlled ventilation device, installation of inlet flenge, and potable cleaning process. The rate of pollutant adsorption of Kapok fiber, which is natural material, is indicated about 91.9%, 66.7%. That result validated the possibility as replacement of activated carbon.

• Journal of Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.28-35
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• 2008

The physico-chemical properties of kapok fibers were altered via the combination processes of chlorite-periodate oxidation, in order to assess their efficacy as a heavy metal adsorbent. The chemically-oxidized kapok fibers were found to harbor a certain amount of polysaccharides, together with lowered lignin content. This alteration in lignin characteristics was clearly confirmed via FTIR and NBO yield. Moreover, chemically oxidized kapok fibers retained their hollow tube shape, although some changes were noted. The chemically oxidized kapok fibers evidenced elevated ability to adsorb heavy metal ions with the best fit for the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Three cycles of adsorption-desorption were conducted with in-between regeneration steps. Our experimental results indicated that chemically oxidized kapok fibers possessed excellent adsorption characteristics, and the modified kapok fibers could be completely regenerated with almost equimolar diluted sodium hydroxide. Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn ions evidenced adsorption rates of 93.55%, 91.83%, 89.75%, and 92.85% on the chemically oxidized kapok fibers. The regeneration efficiency showed 73.58% of Pb, 71.55% of Cu, 66.87% of Cd, and 75.00% of Zn for 3rd cycle with 0.0125N NaOH.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.512-517
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• 2007

The grafting of styrene, glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) or acrylic acid (AAc) onto kapok fiber were performed by $Co_{60}\;{\gamma}-ray$ radiation-induced graft copolymerization. Degree of grafting (DG) of copolymers were increased with increasing monomer concentration and radiation dose. In addition to we confirmed the introduced functional group and measured ion exchange capacity. Morphology of the ion exchange fibers and their structures were analyzed by SEM and FT-IR.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Dyers and Finishers Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.127-128
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• 2007