Kenaf
Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is a sustainable, high yielding, annual fiber crop suitable for warmer climates. It is naturally pest resistant, drought tolerant, fast growing, low maintenance and enriches the soil in rotation with food crops.
Kenaf plants are processed into two main fiber categories, bast from the outer walls and core from the pithy inner stalk. The longer bast fibers are used to improve the environmental footprint of plastic composites, as a textile fiber in specialized applications, as the basis for horticultural matting, as fiber for specialized papers and as cordage material, its traditional use. The short fiber core material is used as a natural soil remediation agent, chemical spill control absorbent, water filter medium, animal bedding, packaging filler material and sound dampening insulation.
Living Green is proud to offer Kenaf Core, manufactured by SFS in South Africa, to the North American market. The Kenaf Core is milled to 3 screen sizes – 20mm, 8mm and 3mm.
The absorbent power of Kenaf Core:
Kenaf Core is both oleophilic and hydrophobic, making it an ideal hydrocarbon absorbent. The spilled chemical is drawn into the Kenaf Core's naturally porous structure through capillary attraction. This encapsulation allows bacteria, which occur naturally in the Kenaf, to biodegrade the spilled chemical down to its safe molecular constituents. The trapped chemical is that tightly held within the Kenaf Core structure during this process that it cannot leach.
Kenaf Core absorbs light crude oil up to an astonishing 10 times its weight, with no additives. This high absorption ratio means that less sorbent is required to take up the spilled chemical. It also means that there is much less material to dispose of once the job is done.
Clean up is simple and low cost. Spent Kenaf Core is compostible or combustible depending on the situation. The thermal energy rating of Kenaf Core is over 17 J / g (7,500 BTU / lb).
Kenaf Core floats, making it your natural choice for oil spills on water. It also selectively absorbs chemicals mixed in with water, which makes it a very useful filter medium.
Packaging:
In its freshly milled state, Kenaf Core has a packing density of about 108kg/m³. After baling it packs to a density of about 165kg/m³ to facilitate transport and storage.
Packaging is functional and un-fussy allowing bulk use of this product quickly and easily. Each bale will comfortably absorb one barrel of light crude.
Bale dimensions: |
80cm x 40cm x 35cm |
Bale weight: |
18kg per bale |
Pallet dimensions: |
120cm x 80cm x 220cm |
Bale count: |
18 bales per pallet |
Pallet weight: |
324kg per pallet net |
Kenaf Core Typical Properties:
Average Fiber Length: |
0.6mm |
Average Fiber Diameter: |
30µ |
Total Cellulose Content: |
51% |
Lignin Content: |
17% |
Pentosan Content: |
19% |
Ash Content: |
3% |
Moisture Content: |
10% |
The following chemicals and hydrocarbons are absorbed by Kenaf Core:
Acetone |
Ethanol |
Naphthalen |
Ammonia |
Ethylbenzene |
Nitrobenzene |
Benzene |
Ethylene Glycol |
Pentane |
Butanol |
Gasoline |
Phenol |
2-Butanone |
Glycerine |
Propanol |
Bromoform |
Hexane |
Styrene |
Carbon Disulfide |
Hexachlorobenzene |
Tetrachloroethane |
Carbon Tetrachloride |
Isoprene |
Tetrachloroethylene |
Chloroform |
Jet Fuel |
Toluene |
Chloromethane |
Kerosene |
Trichloroethylene |
Chlorobenzene |
Methanol |
Vinyl Acetate |
Cutting Oils |
Methylene Chloride |
Vinyl Chloride |
Dichlorobenzene |
Methylphenol |
Bodily fluids and fats |
Diesel Fuels |
Motor Oil |
Oil based paints |
Kenaf Core is all natural, non-toxic plant matter that is safe to store for extended periods without diminishing its active power.
Kenaf Core is an environmentally sound product, providing environmental solutions to an environmentally sensitive world.
