Micro-chemical reactions.—Yellow brown, with iodine; yellow, with aniline sulphate; bright yellow, with chlorine water; changed to carmine by treatment with sodium sulphite solution. {53}
General chemical characteristic.—Ligno-cellulose. The chemistry of jute as the type of ligno-cellulose has been treated on p. [17].
Composition of raw fibre (Müller):—
| 1st Quality. | Cuttings or Butts. (Root ends). | |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulose | 63·76 | 60·89 |
| Fat and wax | 0·38 | ·44 |
| Aqueous extract | 1·00 | 3·89 |
| Non-cellulose, or lignin | 24·32 | 20·98 |
| Water | 9·86 | 12·40 |
| Ash | ·68 | 1·40 |
Forms in which employed.—Threads, butts, bagging.
BAST TISSUES.
The fibres give a yellow colouration with aniline sulphate, but they contain only a small proportion of lignose. The following are the results of analyses of this bast:—
| Cellulose | 49·35 | 58·82[*] |
|---|---|---|
| Fat and wax | 0·94 | 0·41 |
| Aqueous extract | 13·57 | 7·08 |
| Pectous substances | 19·05 | 15·19 |
| Water | 10·90 | 13·18 |
| Ash | 6·19 | 4·72 |
[*] Made up of 13·75 cellulose from medullary tissue, 45·07 cellulose of fibres.