Preparation and Properties of Jute Fiber Long-Chain Fatty Acid Esters in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide

A two-step method involving continuous screw-extrusion steam explosion (CSESE) pretreatment and esterification in supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO(2)) is used to prepare long-chain fatty acid-modified jute fiber. The weight gain percentage (WG %) of CSESE-pretreated jute laurate (JL) was 110.7% when esterification was carried out in scCO(2) at 14 MPa and 100 °C for 2 h. The corresponding WG % was 105.5% when esterification was instead carried out in pyridine at 100 °C for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction indicated that CSESE pretreatment enhanced the reactivity of jute fiber, with esterification in scCO(2) simultaneously occurring on the fibers surface and internal walls. The glass transition temperature of esterified jute was approximately 119 °C, indicating that it could be hot processed over a wide temperature range. The esterified jute had an oil absorption ratio of 17.01 g/g, so it can be used as an oil absorption material.