Characterisation of Grass Fibres

The elementary grass fibres were isolated from different grass and legumes sorts, i.e. Ryegrass (Lolium hybridum Gumpenstein), Wheat straw, Trefoil (Trifolium pratense) and Lucerne (Medicago sativa). The fibre-samples were obtained in a bio-refinery, after the liquid phase containing proteins and lactic acid was eliminated from the ensiled and green grasses, respectively. For the isolation of elementary grass fibres different processes were used. The morphological characteristics of stems and leaves of different grass species were microscopically observed. On the microscopical stem and leaves cross-section samples the quantification of fibres sclerenchyma cells was performed. The quantitative analysis was carried out in order to obtain basic quantitative data on grass fibres, such as area of the single fibre or group of fibres, diameter of a single fibre or group of fibres and distances between the most distant and least distant points on the area of the fibre. Measurements were made using a Carl Zeiss software KS 300, which runs on a computer connected to the image analysis equipment consisting of a microscope and a digital camera. In addition to, geometrical and mechanical properties of isolated fibres and fibre bundles were determined. Due to the grass history, i.e. deformations and damages caused by the treatment of grasses in the bio-refinery, maturity grade, grass or legumes type and conditions during grass growth, the plant structures vary considerable in their properties. C 2005 Springer Science + Business Media, Inc.