Characterization of several modified jute fibers using zeta-potential measurements

zeta-potential measurements using the streaming potential method were performed on several differently modified jute fibers. The time dependence of the zeta-potential measured in 1 x 10(-3) M KCl solution offers the possibility to characterize the water-uptake behavior and the velocity constant of this process for almost all the jute fibers investigated. All the jute fibers contain, as expected, dissociable acidic surface functional groups as could be verified by measuring the pH dependence of the zeta-potential. Remarkably a peak (increase in the negative zeta-potential values) was detected while measuring the zeta-pH dependency. The origin of this peak is still questionable; however, it could be observed that this peak is a function of the degree of surface coverage of additional components, such as fats, waxes or grafted polymers, i.e. the accessibility of ether functions in the jute fiber surface.