Optimization of technical parameters for preparing fiber from rice straw

A central composite rotatable orthogonal experimental design of response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to find the optimum technical parameters combination for preparing fiber from rice straw by the straw extruder testbed. Obtainable fiber percentage, the ratio of length to width of the fiber and anti-tensile index were selected as responses, and five factors, such as the length of rice straw, soaking time of straw into water, initial temperature of extruding press, screw rotary speed and feed rate were selected as input variables with five levels respectively. The results indicated that under the condition of an optimum combination that the length of rice straw being 10～14 cm, soaking time being 12～24 h, initial temperature of extruding press being 25℃, screw rotary speed being 70 r/min and feed rate being 60 g/min，the ratio of length to width of the fiber was over 40 , anti-tensile index was more than 10N?m /g and obtainable fiber percentage attained was more than 85%.