The Right Way to Process Hemp Fiber
There are four compounds in hemp fiber that need to be addressed: pectin, lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. LeBlanc has developed a non-toxic way to remove both pectin and lignin using food grade enzymes. And we’ve discovered a mechanical way to dislodge the hemicellose.
The bast and hurd feed two distinct markets. Therefore it makes sense to separate them at the time of harvest and transport them to their respective customers. We’ve built a prototype of just such a workflow, a.k.a The toolChain, that’s solar powered and can be used on the farm when the hemp is harvested.
Any amount of processing during harvest adds value to the raw plant material. Our goal is to create the raw materials others make finished products with.
Fiber is the future and the future is fiber.
The fiber market is new, somewhat chaotic, and bound to expand. In addition to hemp LeBlanc has grown and processed flax in the belief that blends of the two are ideal for both papermaking and textiles.
The only way to make money with fiber crops is at scale. In other words, it takes a lot of plants to be profitable. Our working prototypes are models what a mature hemp industry will look like. We’re collecting data and populating spreadsheets as we go. Data is good, more data Is better!
Please don’t underestimate what we’re doing now. We’re only sharing the tip of the iceberg for now. Stay tuned, film at 11...
