Philippines' DOST imparts training on bleaching abaca fire

17 Aug '13

2 min read

Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) recently conducted training on advance bleaching and dyeing of abaca fibre.

Members of Tanikala ng Pagkakaisa Multi-purpose cooperative, which makes abaca-based handicrafts, participated in the training aimed at assisting the members of the cooperative to enhance their existing facility and equipment to cater to a wider market.

Under the programme “Technology Training on Advanced Bleaching and Dyeing for Natural Fibers”, Mr. Bilshan F Servanez, the Provincial S&T Director of Romblon, shared latest technology to improve the usual way of bleaching and dyeing of abaca.

The new technology will enhance the quality of the abaca products and ease the production process, resulting in increased productivity.

Mr. Servanez said the Mangyans bleach their natural abaca fibres by overnight-soaking the freshly harvested fibres, then these are washed and dried. He said that this process may be followed, but the use of lesser amount of glacial acetic acid during bleaching will improve the tensile strength of the fibres.

The use of glaubers salt instead of ordinary rock salt is also recommended to avoid the fading of dyes. The glaubers salt serves as a leveling agent by dispersing the dye evenly throughout the fibre, which gives intensity to the colors containing turquoise and helps wash fast.

There was also a session on profitability analysis for the production and on techniques for efficient fiber utilization in producing abaca slippers.

DOST-PSTC provided the digital weighing scale for more accurate and precise weighing of chemicals for improved ration during drying. The project is funded through the DOST-Mimaropa’s Grants-In-Aid (GIA) fund.

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