The relatively more common chemical retting methods use alkalis, mild acids and enzymes for fiber extraction. Sodium hydroxide is the most commonly used chemical for fiber extraction. Acids such as sulfuric acid and oxalic acid in combination with a detergent have also been used for fiber extraction [13,14]. Chemical concentration, temperature
and duration of treatment are the main factors determining the quality of chemically extracted fibers. For enzymatic fiber extraction, a combination of enzymes such as pectinases, hemicellulases and cellulases are generally used with a pre- or postchemical treatment. Recently, multienzyme complexes that can express 10–15 enzyme activities and provide better fiber quality have been developed [see Hans Sejr, O. (2004) Enzymes at
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