Performance of transesterified jute rolled erosion-control products

Rolled erosion-control products (RECPs) made from natural fibres such as jute, coir and sisal are widely used for controlling soil erosion until vegetation growth is sufficient to reinforce the soil. The relatively high water retention of jute RECPs is responsible for its rapid degradation and limited use in areas of heavy rainfall. Among the various chemical treatments given to jute fibres to improve their durability, the transesterification process has been reported to be promising and free from toxic effects of chemicals used in the process. However, no researchers have reported the effect of the transesterification process on the performance of jute RECPs. In the present study, jute RECPs of 500 and 700 g/m(2) masses were transesterified, and their erosion control performance was studied using Shiwalik range soil. Rain splash erosion tests were carried out at 158, 308 and 458 slope angles, based on ASTM D 7101 using a bench-scale set-up with some modifications. Germination tests were performed according to ASTM D 7322. The transesterification of RECPs resulted in the improvement of erosion control, due to the improved percentage cover and reduced flexural rigidity. In the germination test, the total rooting, which improves the soil stability, was found to be higher for the transesterified RECPs. The chemical degradation of transesterified jute RECPs was tested using a saline solution at various pH values, and it was observed that the transesterified jute RECPs retained about 72% of their strength in comparison with 19% for jute untreated RECPs after 120 days of treatment.