Osmosis Phenomena Based Degumming of Bast Fibrous Plants as a Promising Method in Primary Processing

In this article the review of the methods of lignocellulosic plants degumming is presented. Generally, for the degumming, the following methods are used: biological, chemical, mechanical and physical – retting in warm and cold water retting, dew retting, chemical treatment by acid and base, use of electromagnetic pulses and most promising – osmotic degumming with ultrasound. The paper presents the newest methods of degumming, especially the method of osmotic degumming combined with ultrasound. This new method, developed by Institute of Natural Fibres and Medicinal Plants, is a typical pro-ecological method, because degumming water after cleaning has to be recycled. The retting water has no odour and biochemical oxygen demand and chemical oxygen demand parameters are not high. For better cost-efficiency, the osmotic degumming method can be applied also for degumming green decorticated fibres.