Characterization of a New Lignocellulosic Fiber from Brazil: Imperata brasiliensis (Brazilian Satintail) as an Alternative Source for Nanocellulose Extraction

The chemical, physical and thermal properties of a new lignocellulosic fiber from Brazil (Imperata brasiliensis) were examined by SEM, chemical composition, XRD, FTIR, and TGA. Fibers were analyzed aiming to compare the properties of its new natural resource with other lignocellulosic fibers used as a source of nanocellulose extraction. Microscopy analysis demonstrated that the bundle of fibers presented a variety of size and shapes, ranging between 25 and 500 µm, while a single fiber has a diameter of 5 µm. The chemical composition showed the presence of 37.7% of cellulose, 35% of hemicellulose and 14.3% of lignin. The total crystallinity index (CI) calculated using Segal method was of 36.6%. By TGA, it was possible to identify the degradation step of each primary component of lignocellulosic fiber and to observe that the onset degradation temperature was 157°C. With the results of ATR-FTIR technique, it was possible to estimate the CI, and the results exhibited good agreement with that calculated by XRD. Finally it was possible to conclude that fibers obtained from Imperata brasiliensis are suitable to be used as a resource for nanocellulose obtainment since presents almost the same properties of other lignocellulosic fibers successfully used in literature for nanocellulose extraction.     

Physico-chemical characterisation and tensile mechanical properties of Agave americanaL. fibres

In this paper, the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of Agave americana L. fibre are studied to explore the possibilities of using this fibre in textile industry. Three different processings for extracting fibres from the leaf of Agave americana L. plant were investigated: (i) raw fibres manually extracted, (ii) fibres extracted by retting leaves in seawater and (iii) fibres extracted after hydrolysis treatment of the leaves in distilled water. Chemical composition (cellulose, lignin and hemicellulose contents), physical properties (density, fineness and crystallinity) as well as mechanical properties of the resultant fibres were measured. The chemical composition reveals that the Agave americana L. fibre has a cellulose content at the order of 62% which is similar to that of other lignocellulosic fibres. The distilled water extracted fibres developed the highest cellulose content. Lignin content of Agave americana L. fibre is low compared to other natural fibres (2.4%) and seawater-extracted fibres generated the lowest lignin content (2.12%). Fourier transform infrared spectra (FTIR) and x-ray diffractometry of all extracted fibres revealed the same chain conformation. X-ray diffractograms showed that cellulose I is the main crystalline constituent. Concerning physical and mechanical properties, raw fibres were characterised by the lowest density (0.9) and the highest crystallinity (51.2%), they are also stronger and less extensible than the other two fibres. In this paper, we attempt to study the effect of extraction in water on the mechanical and physical properties of Agave americana L. fibres.     

Characterization of cellulosic fibers from Morus alba L. stem

The chemical microstructural, physical, and thermal properties of the Morus alba L. stem fibers (MAFs) are described for the first time in this work. By analyzing the results of chemical composition, it was observed that the cellulose content of the stem of MAFs is an acceptable value when compared with other fibers and showed better results. Due to their lightweight (1316 kg/m³) and the presence of high cellulose content (58.65%) with very little amount of wax (0.56%), they provide good bonding properties. In addition, analyzing the results of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, we observe a degree of crystallinity of 62.06%, which is closely associated with the presence of crystalline cellulose, while the other components are amorphous. The diameter of the extracted cellulosic fibers was in the range 6–20 µm. Moreover, it was possible to identify the degradation step of each primary component of lignocellulosic fiber and to observe that it is thermally stable up to 216°C. The characterization results show that the MAF is a better replacement material for synthetic fibers because of its significant physical, chemical, and thermal properties.     

Effectiveness of Alkali and Sodium Bicarbonate Treatments on Sugar Palm Fiber: Mechanical,Thermal, and Chemical Investigations

ABSTRACT

Sugar palm fiber (SPF) as one of the attractive natural fibers to reinforce matrix is gaining attention. This is largely due to its similar properties when compared with other established natural fibers. The aim of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate as a treatment chemical for SPF in comparison with established alkaline treatment. Both treated and untreated fibers were characterized and it was found that the treated fiber shows an increase in crystallinity, thermal stability, and surface’s roughness when compared with the untreated. Among the two different treatments, SPF treated with alkali has an initial decomposition temperature of 255.47°C, while sodium bicarbonate treated and untreated fibers have 250.19°C and 246.76°C, respectively. In both cases, the thermal stability of the fiber was improved. Also, as revealed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the crystallinity index of SPF treated with alkali and sodium bicarbonate increased by 18.43% and 13.60%, respectively, when compared with untreated fiber. In conclusion, the investigation proved that treatment with the sodium bicarbonate has a significant effect on the physicochemical properties of SPF and the chemical could be an alternative chemical for treating other cellulose fibers.     

Characterization of the conventional and organic cotton fibres

The characterization of the conventional and organic cotton fibres to understand the differences present between them is presented. The cotton fibres were characterized for their fibre properties such as the surface morphology, surface chemical composition, surface elemental composition and internal fibre structure. The results show that the surface morphology and surface chemical composition of both the cotton fibres are similar. The surface elemental composition of both the cotton fibres shows that organic cotton fibres have higher percentage of metals than the conventional cotton fibres. Based on the FTIR spectrum analysis, it is observed that the organic cotton fibres may have a higher proportion of representative groups compared to that of the conventional cotton fibres. The fraction of I _α and I _β cellulose shows that I _β cellulose dominates in both cotton fibres. The crystallinity of both the cotton fibres was determined using the wide angle X-ray diffraction data. The results show that crystallinity of both fibres is similar.     

Physico-chemical and mechanical characterization of alkali-treated Agave americana L. fiber

This study investigates the effect of mercerization on the physico-chemical and mechanical properties of Agave americana L. fiber. The alkali concentration is a crucial parameter which affects the crystallinity and the tenacity of the fiber. Treatments with low alkali concentrations produce fibers that are stronger than the untreated fibers and at this level the crystallinity reaches high values. However, treatments with high concentrations (>2% wt/v) result in weaker fibers with low crystallinity index. The chemical composition of A. americana L. fibers is also altered by the mercerization process insofar as the cellulose content increased with the NaOH concentration while the hemicelluloses and lignin contents decreased.     

菠萝叶纤维化学脱胶过程中理化性能变化规律

采用纤维组分测定、单色荧光显微成像系统、傅里叶红外光谱(FT-IR)、X射线衍射(XRD)、拉伸性能测试等手段表征菠萝叶纤维在化学脱胶过程中组成、结构与力学性能的变化规律。结果表明:在化学脱胶过程中,菠萝叶纤维成分变化较大,纤维素含量由60.21%提高至80.09%,半纤维素含量由16.62%降低至7.68%,木质素含量由10.68%降低至1.03%,果胶含量由3.30%降低至1.13%;半纤维素和果胶在预酸、碱煮后发生了剧烈降解,大部分木质素还需漂白后方能去除;纤维细度逐渐变小,表面变得光滑,沟槽逐渐明显,分离度增加,均匀性提高;纤维素晶型保持不变,均属于Ⅰ型纤维素,但相对结晶度逐渐升高;纤维断裂强力和断裂强度虽然有所降低,但可满足后续纺纱要求。     

Structural and Chemical Characteristics of Sisal Fiber and Its Components: Effect of Washing and Grinding

This work covers the study of microstructural changes of natural sisal fibers induced by different conditioning pre-treatments: mechanical grinding, cryogenic grinding, and hot water washing. The aim of the work is to clarify the effects of the pre-treatments on crystallinity and infrared spectra of sisal. Scanning electron microscopy results allowed to identify morphological changes on the fiber surface. Deeper changes of chemical origin were studied by attenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and focused on the main components of cellular walls: cellulose, lignin, and xylan. The work was complemented with crystallinity index (I_c) data determined by two very different methods: the widely used for lignocellulosic fibers Segal equation based on X-ray diffraction measurements, and the other based on FTIR through the 1430/900 cm^?1 band intensity ratio, which is mostly used with cellulosic samples.     

Physicochemical,tensile, and thermal characterization of new natural cellulosic fibers from the stems of Sida cordifolia

Natural fibers are the one worthy substitute for replacing synthetic fibers and used as a polymer reinforcement due to their eco-friendly nature. This investigation deals with the newly identified Sida cordifolia fibers (SCFs) characterized by chemical analysis, single fiber tensile test, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA/DTG), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The chemical constituents of SCFs contains cellulose (69.52%), hemicellulose (17.63%), and lignin (18.02. %). The SCFs are thermally stable up to a temperature of 338.2°C evidenced by TGA analysis. The X-ray diffraction confirmed that SCFs were rich in cellulose fraction with a crystallinity index of 56.92%.     

Properties of Natural Fibers from the Abaxial Side of Fireweed (Gerbera delavayi) Leaf Blade for Manual Spinning

Natural plant fibers obtained from the abaxial side of fireweed (Gerbera delavayi) leaf blade were systematically studied. Fireweed fibers were manually dismantled from hot-bath-treated, refrigerated, or untreated leaves and evaluated for different properties. In terms of the collection method, treatment with hot bath exhibited the highest efficiency. As for chemical composition, that of raw (untreated) fireweed fibers was similar to that of cotton, except for wax content that was four times higher in fireweed fibers that in cotton fibers. Fireweed fiber generally exhibited low values of length (6.5 mm), fineness (0.5 dtex), tenacity (0.7 cN/dtex), density (0.9 g/cm³), and crystallinity (14.6%) but similar elongation at break and moisture regain to those of cotton. Furthermore, fireweed fibers showed a smooth surface, soft texture, and water impermeability. After hot-bath treatment, fibers showed 20% lower wax component but higher thermal stability than raw fibers. The small size hindered the fibers from achieving the desirable standard of spinning and weaving by modern machine, but these unique cellulose fibers can be used for manual textile application without any chemical treatment.     

Extraction and Characterization of Calotropis gigantea Bast Fibers as Novel Reinforcement for Composites Materials

The aim of this study is to scrutinize the use of Calotropis gigantea bast fibers as potential reinforcement in polymer composites. The bast fibers were extracted from the Calotropis gigantea plant bark and some of them were treated with alkali (5 wt.%) solution. The chemical composition, physico-chemical structural properties of the untreated and the alkali treated Calotropis bast fibers were studied. The results of chemical composition analysis indicated that alkali treatment removed most of the non-cellulose materials as confirmed by the FTIR analysis. The X-ray diffraction results exhibited that the crystallinity index of the alkali treated fibers increased in comparison with the untreated fibers, which agrees with the results obtained in the mechanical tests. The tensile strength and modulus of the alkali treated fibers were found to be higher whereas the elongation at break was lower than the untreated fibers. Thermal stability of alkali treated fibers was lower than that of the untreated fiber. Scanning electron micrographs showed roughening of the surface of the fiber due to the removal of the surface impurities and non-cellulosic components on alkali treatment.It can be concluded that alkali treatment is an effective method to improve the surface and mechanical properties of Calotropis bast fibers to be used in composite materials.     

Morphology,Structure, and Mechanical Properties of Natural Cellulose Fiber from Mendong Grass (Fimbristylis globulosa)

This study was to investigate the morphology, structure, and chemical properties of the Mendong fibers extracted from Mendong grass (Fimbristylis globulosa) in the form of raw and treated fiber by alkali-included chemical content and functional group and to evaluate the strength and properties of Mendong fibers compared with other natural fibers. These studies explore the chemical properties of the fiber including fiber composition and functional group by FTIR, mechanical properties of fiber, and the structural and morphological analysis of the fiber using SEM and XRD. The results showed that the chemical contents of Mendong fibers were 72.14% cellulose, 20.2% hemicellulose, 3.44% lignin, 4.2% extractive, and moisture of 4.2%–5.2%. Mechanical properties of the fiber were a strong character with tensile strength of 452 MPa, and modulus of 17 GPa. The structural properties of Mendong fiber such as crystallinity, crystalline index, microfibril angle, and crystalline size were 70.17% and 58.6%, 22.9°, and 14.3 nm, respectively. This fiber has competitive advantages compared with other natural fibers and can be developed further as a potential reinforcement of polymer matrix composites.     

Extraction and Characterization of Lignocellulosic Fibers from Girardinia Bullosa (Steudel) Wedd. (Ethiopian Kusha Plant)

ABSTRACT

Currently, eco-friendly products have been given great attention as the world is being polluted severely by non-biodegradable products and by-products. Different textile products have their own share in affecting the environment. This research is focused on exploring alternative bast fiber products to support the supply chain and to assess the possibility of using this fiber as a substitute to already available bast fibers. Kusha fiber was extracted and optimized from Ethiopian kusha plant stem – Girardinia bullosa (Steudel) wedd. – using caustic soda solution by varying the concentration, temperature, and time using design expert 6.0.10, quadratic model software. Tensile property, chemical composition, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), fiber morphology, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) of the fiber were determined. Fiber characterization showed its tensile strength, and the cellulose content was equivalent to or even better than other bast fibers. Morphology of the fiber was similar to that of typical cotton with visible lumen and a slightly flat surface. Therefore, this new extracted fiber has a great potential to be used for different applications such as fiber-reinforced composites, textile furnishing, apparel, and nanocellulose extraction.     

青桐韧皮化学脱胶与纤维性能分析

为充分开发利用当地纤维素纤维资源,实验室采用化学脱胶工艺制备了青桐纤维,并对其韧皮成分进行了分析,测试分析了青桐纤维干、湿态下的多项物理机械性能指标;借助扫描电镜、XRD对纤维的外观形貌,结晶度和取向度进行了研究,对比分析了纤维的聚集态结构。结果显示,青桐韧皮纤维素含量大于63%,果胶质和脂蜡质含量较高,经化学脱胶后青桐纤维残胶率为4.2%;纤维截面近似椭圆,没有空腔,纵向有沟槽和横节,具有较高的初始模量和较低的断裂伸长率,但其线密度较大,Segal法计算纤维的结晶度为64.54%,取向度为98.04%。     

Properties of microcrystalline cellulose extracted from soybean hulls by reactive extrusion

The objectives of this study were to produce microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) from soybean hulls (SH) employing a simple method based on reactive extrusion, and to characterize the product according its microstructure, morphology, crystallinity and thermal stability. MCC was obtained from SH after a two-step extrusion process; in the first step, the SH was extruded with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), followed by extrusion with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) in the second step. The MCC produced from SH by reactive extrusion was composed of short and rod shaped fibers, with a cellulose content of 83.79% and a crystallinity index of 70%. Reactive extrusion is an alternative and effective method for the production of MCC from lignocellulosic residues, and has the advantages of simplicity and was less polluting than conventional methods.     

Effect of Alkali Treatment on Alfa Fibers Behavior

The object of this study is to characterize of Algerian Alfa (Esparto grass or Stipa tenacissima L), and also to examine the effect of chemical treatment on different properties of this fiber. The surface of the Alfa vegetable fibers was modified by alkali treatment in 5% (NaOH) aqueous solution for 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 24, 48, and 72 h. The chemical, physical, and morphological properties of the Alfa fibers were investigated. The results show that the Alfa fibers are composed of 39% cellulose, 33% hemicelluloses, 20% lignin, and certain minerals (e.g., SiO₂, K₂O, and CaO). The alkali treatment of the fibers contributes to a decrease in the rate of moisture absorption and to an increase the crystallinity and stiffness. The processing time for adequate alkali treatment is observed at 6 h.     

Physicochemical Properties of New Cellulosic Fibers from Azadirachta indica Plant

This research study was aimed at examining newly identified natural fiber from the bark of Azadirachta indica (AI). The various properties were analyzed and compared with other available bark fibers. The chemical composition of Azadirachta indica fibers (AIFs), high cellulose (68.42 wt.%) content, and low lignin (13.58 wt.%) were discovered. The lower density of 740 kg/m³, and crystallinity index of 65.04% properties were identified. The maximum peak temperature obtained was 321.2 °C in Differential thermogravimetry (DTG) curve. Taken together, all the properties of AIFs indicated that they could be suitable to make green composites for various types of applications.     

几种天然纤维素纤维的结构研究

通过对几种天然纤维素纤维的结构进行较为全面的测试与分析,以便于对其性能有所了解,也有利于加工、使用与鉴别.研究结果表明:竹纤维的结构属结晶度高、取向度高、大分子排列非常紧密的纤维,腰圆形截面有中腔并有裂纹,纵向有凹槽,有利于水分的传递与蒸发;化学成分分析表明竹纤维为典型的纤维素纤维;无论从宏观还是微观,竹纤维的物理结构和化学结构与苎麻纤维非常相似.     

PFI及超声波预处理对阔叶木溶解浆纤维性能及其黄化过程的影响

本研究对阔叶木溶解浆纤维进行PFI(磨浆)预处理和超声波(破碎)预处理,考察预处理前后对纤维长度和宽度、孔隙结构、表面形貌、纤维素结晶度和Fock反应性能的影响。结果表明,PFI预处理对纤维孔容、比表面积、纤维素结晶度和Fock反应性能影响较小,而超声波预处理(540 W/10 min)后,纤维的孔容由1.0×10-2cm3/g增加至2.2×10-2cm3/g,比表面积由5.358 m2/g增加至9.503 m2/g,纤维素结晶度从82.57%下降至76.38%,Fock反应性能由38.82%增加至49.80%。纤维在黄化试剂体系中的溶解历程主要是"鼓泡式"润胀-溶胀-溶解的过程,随着黄化反应的进行,纤维二重质均长度先下降后上升,二重质均宽度持续增加;细小纤维含量先增加后降低,纤维素结晶度不断降低,纤维素部分溶解;在黄化反应3 h过程中,纤维二重质均宽度由17.6μm增加至34.3μm,纤维素结晶度由76.38%下降至57.53%;纤维的二重质均长度在0~2 h时由0.826 mm下降至0.547 mm,3 h后增加至0.766 mm;细小纤维含量在0~2 h时由1.2%增加至6.2%,3 h后则降低至3.4%。     

Effect of Laccase and Xylanase Enzyme Treatment on Chemical and Mechanical Properties of Banana Fiber

This work analyses the effect of Laccase and Xylanase enzyme treatment on chemical and mechanical properties of banana fiber. Properties such as chemical composition, density, tensile strength, and color were analyzed. The removal of lignin increased with increase in enzymes concentration. Lignin removal was observed to be higher for Laccase treatment. The hemicellulose removal was higher for Xylanase treatment and the results were confirmed by FTIR spectrum. It is evident that cellulose%, density and tensile strength increased up to 15% enzyme treatment concentration and then started declining at 20% enzyme concentration in the case of both enzymes, whereas the moisture regain percentage of the fiber decreased with increase in enzyme concentration. The effects of enzymatic treatments are clearly visible in the SEM images.