Bioprospecting of jute fibre: An eco-friendly physico-biochemical based technology

Enzymatic processes are evolving as sustainable biotechnological advancements in the textile industry. This study presents a two-step retting of jute using an enzyme cocktail from the novel brown rot fungus Formitopsis cf melia , combined with steam explosion pre-treatment (STEX) to reduce processing time. The study focused on the middle and lower portions of jute fiber, highlighting variations in mechanical, physical and chemical properties that influence the product formation. Detailed experimental analysis revealed that, compared to raw and chemical treatments, STEX-ET processed fibers reduced the overall retting duration to 4–6 h and exhibit superior mechanical properties, including higher tenacity (5.311 cN/dtex), fiber fineness (2.15 ± 0.07 tex) and breaking elongation (2.46 %) for the middle portions, whereas notable tenacity (2.66 cN/dtex), fiber fineness (2.53 ± 0.07 tex) and breaking elongation (2.15 %) for lower portions. The chemical composition and XRD analysis also confirm that the STEX-ET processed fiber showed enhanced cellulosic content (middle portion-75.62 %, lower portion-72.12 %) and crystallinity indices (middle portion-73.10 %, lower portion-69.39 %). The middle and lower portions showed whiteness of 60.3 % and 49.01 %, respectively, while the yellowness index decreased for both portions producing golden-colored fibers. Additionally, the Weibull distribution method exhibited a higher modulus (m) of 4.76 (R² - 96 %) and 3.42 (R² −90 %) for middle and lower portions, respectively, indicating process reliability. The lower COD value (2465.68–2769.28) of the spent enzymatic liquid confirmed the eco-friendliness of the process. Overall, the method presents a promising, reliable and efficient solution, enhancing fibre quality and making the process more viable and cost-effective. • An effective, eco-friendly enzymatic retting process. • Efficient process for biodegradable targeted molecules for improved jute retting. • Amalgamation of a newly developed process with combined physical and biological retting. • Fiber yield of 70.14 % for middle and 67.6 % for lower portion of the jute. • Middle and lower portions exhibited higher tenacity, measuring 5.311 cN/dtex and 2.66 cN/dtex, respectively.