Studies of cultivation and utilization of Kenaf to activate the Japanese mountainous villages

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Kenaf (Hibiscus cannadinus L.) was cultivated at a mountainous village in Kochi. Harvested yield was more than 15 tons per hectare by oven dry weight. This indicates that kenaf can be a hopeful industrial plant resources even in Japan.The pulping experiments showed that very high viscosity kenaf bast pulp can be made at normal pressure by soda pulping after anmmonium oxalate pretreatment. This process could be applied to small to medium pulp mill which is expected to be designed at the site of cultivation.It was also found that kenaf leaves contain Hibiscus acid which lead to the low pH (2〜3) of kenaf leaves. Taking into consideration of high protein content of the leaves, they are expected to be used as animal food and silage.Kenaf bast was treated for nonwoven fabrics. Kenaf core was treated for hight quality absorbent by low temperature carbonization.Above results show that kenaf can be processed to a series of products even in the Japanese mountainous villages.