Impact of Cultivation Area on the Physical, Chemical, and Mechanical Properties of Banana Pseudo-Stems Fibers in Cameroon

ABSTRACT

Cellulosic fibers were extracted from the pseudo-stem of Musa sapientum cultivated in two different sites in Cameroon. The FBY (Yaounde Banana Fibers) and FBP (Penja Banana Fibers) studied in this work were obtained by a bio-extraction method and characterized. The apparent densities of FBP and FBY were 0.90 ± 0.02 g/cm³ and 1.03 ± 0.04 g/cm³, while the moisture contents were 10.6 ± 0.2% and 12.4 ± 0.3%, respectively. Their chemical compositions were as follows: extracts 15.32% and 17.79%; pectin 5.7% and 14.77%; lignin 10.1% and 9.8%; and cellulose 47.1% and 58.3%, respectively. The water absorption rate at saturation was 140% and 170% by mass and was reached rapidly in the first 30 min of immersion. The tensile strengths of fibers were 743.9 MPa and 730.6 MPa, the elastic moduli were 260 MPa and 242 MPa, and the elongations at break were 2.8% and 2.2%, respectively. From the thermal analysis, the fibers’ stability temperatures were in the neighborhood of 250°C. Only slight differences were noticed in the properties of both fibers. Long outdoor conservation of the banana pseudo-stems before processing provided fibers with properties comparable to the properties of natural fibers reported in the literature. Independently of the harvesting locations, both fibers can be envisaged as cost-cutting fillers in the plastic industry.

摘要

从在喀麦隆两个不同地点种植的Musa sapientum假茎中提取纤维素纤维. 本工作研究的FBY（雅温得香蕉纤维）和FBP（Penja香蕉纤维）通过生物提取方法获得并表征. FBP和FBY的表观密度分别为0.90 ± 0.02 g/cm3和1.03 ± 0.04 g/cm3，水分含量分别为10.6 ± 0.2%和12.4 ± 0.3%. 其化学成分分别为: 提取物15.32%和17.79%; 果胶含量分别为5.7%和14.77%; 木质素10.1%和9.8%; 纤维素含量分别为47.1%和58.3%. 饱和时的吸水率为140质量%和170质量%，并且在浸渍的前30分钟内迅速达到. 纤维的拉伸强度分别为743.9MPa和730.6MPa，弹性模量分别为260MPa和242MPa; 断裂伸长率分别为2.8%和2.2%. 从热分析来看，纤维的稳定温度在250°C左右. 两种纤维的财产只有轻微的差异. 加工前对香蕉假茎进行长时间室外保存，使纤维的财产可与文献中报道的天然纤维的财产相媲美. 与收获位置无关，这两种纤维都可以被视为塑料工业中的成本削减填料.

KEYWORDS:

• Banana pseudo-stems
• cultivation site
• waste recovery
• chemical composition
• crystallization
• mechanical properties

关键词:

• 香蕉假茎
• 栽培地点
• 废物回收
• 化学成分
• 结晶
• 机械财

Highligths

• Fibers obtained from banana pseudo-stems, cultivated with or without chemicals was investigated.

• Fibers were obtained by bioextraction.

• Fibers obtained can be used as reinforcing agent for many thermoplastic materials.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This project did not receive any funding. The research was financially supported by the contribution of all authors.