The chemical composition of the lipophilic extractives from jute (Corchorus capsularis) fibers, which are used for high-quality paper pulp manufacturing, was thoroughly studied. The extractives content was low (0.4%), and its composition was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. For a better characterization of the different homologous series and compounds present in minor amounts, the extract was also fractionated by solid-phase extraction. The most predominant lipophilic compounds present in jute fibers were high molecular weight ester waxes (24% of total extract), followed by free fatty acids (17%), free fatty alcohols (17%) and α-hydroxyfatty acids (14%). Additionally, significant amounts of alkanes (6%), ω-hydroxyfatty acids (6%), sterols (6%), steroid and triterpenoids ketones (3%) and steryl glycosides (1%) were also identified, together with minor amounts of mono- and diglycerides.

E-mail: delrio@irnase.csic.es (J.C. del Río)

Peer reviewed