Question

Decortication is related with

• A. Jute
• B. Wool
• C. Sisal
• D. Ramie

Hint:

Leaf fibres like sisal and abaca are extracted using decortication, not retting.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding decortication.
Decortication is a mechanical process used to separate fibres from the fleshy or woody part of plant leaves or stems. It involves scraping, crushing, and beating actions.
Step 2: Fibre-specific application.
Sisal fibres are obtained from the leaves of the Agave plant. These leaves contain fibres embedded in fleshy tissue, which must be removed mechanically.
Step 3: Eliminating other options.
Jute and ramie fibres are extracted mainly by retting, not decortication. Wool is an animal fibre and does not involve such a process.
Step 4: Conclusion.
Hence, decortication is related to sisal fibre extraction.

Answer 2

Decortication is a specific mechanical fibre-extraction method, so the question is which of these four fibre sources is actually separated from its parent plant material that way rather than by retting or by shearing an animal.

1. Jute: Jute fibre is extracted from the stem by retting - soaking the stalks in water so bacteria loosen the fibre from the woody core - not by mechanical decortication.
2. Wool: Wool is an animal fibre obtained by shearing a sheep's fleece; there is no plant stem or leaf tissue to mechanically strip away, so decortication does not apply to it at all.
3. Sisal: Sisal fibre comes from thick, fleshy Agave leaves. The fibre bundles are embedded in soft leaf tissue that must be scraped, crushed and beaten away mechanically, which is exactly what decortication does.
4. Ramie: Ramie, like jute, is a bast fibre from the plant stem and is traditionally extracted mainly by retting and degumming processes rather than leaf decortication.

Only sisal's leaf-fibre extraction relies on this mechanical scraping-and-beating process, matching decortication exactly.

Therefore, the correct answer is Sisal.