Reinventing Hemp as Bio Fiber Material for Industrial Applications: Past, Present and the Future

Abstract

This review paper gives an overview Hemp known as Cannabis Sativa, which has been cultivated and used as an agricultural crop centuries before the Common Area. Hemp has been described as the billion-dollar plant in 1938 but has lost its value in the U.S. and the World due to regulatory and legislature issues since then. Hemp has seen as new push In the U.S. and other parts of the world with the introduction of legislature in the late 20th century in Europe and other parts of the world and recently in the U.S with the 2018 Farm Bill which allows on a federal level to grow Hemp, pending on individual state regulations, allowing Hemp to become a new sustainable crop for many future applications. However, Hemp research in these areas has stalled due to the complexity of the law. Hemp is used in many counties today that do not have as strict regulations as the U.S. and Europe in a variety of applications such as such as beauty products, pharmaceuticals, carpets, industrial insulation materials, paper products, cooking oil, personal care products, and textiles as well as biofuel application to replace petroleum-based fuels and gases due to its low lignin and high cellulose level. In most European countries, and the U.S. cultivars with a level below 0.3% THC are allowed. But cultivation is generally subject to reporting. The use of Hemp plants with higher levels is strictly forbidden in most countries. Usage of Hemp fibers as sustainable environmentally friendly fiber source for energy and industrial applications are slowly moving forwards at present time since there is barely practical large-scale research and pilot installations available about its industrial application potential.