Processing of pineapple leaf fibers as a sustainable alternative in composite production
Pineapple leaves were treated using hot water and alkali solution for the extraction of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) at three different temperatures (50 °C, 70 °C and 90 °C) and three different levels of concentrated solutions of NaOH dissolved in water (2 %, 4 % and 6 %). The physical property analysis of hot water and alkali pretreated PALF were carried out to measure the tensile strength, percentage of elongation, color change and surface properties of PALF. The PALF treated at 70 °C for 15 min showed maximum average tensile strength and was within the permissible limit for industrial application. Hot water and alkali treated PALF resulted quite similar in tensile strength. PALF treated with hot water at 70 °C for 15 min had the maximum tensile strength of 1206.3 MPa ± 753.0 MPa in both alkali and hot water pretreatments. However, PALF treated with hot water at 50 °C registered the lowest tensile strength of 353.1 MPa ± 41.5 MPa in both pretreatments. The maximum tensile strength of alkali treated PALF was registered with the treatment at 2 % for 6 hours and had a value of 1137.2 MPa ± 28.0 MPa. In both hot water and alkali treated PALF, the percentage elongation was lower compared to the non-treated PALF (control). Hot water treated PALF recorded a maximum percentage elongation than alkali treated PALF with 5.27 ± 0.25 compared to 4.15 ± 1.82. The tensile strength and percentage elongation in both treatments showed similar increase with respect to an increase in temperature and alkalinity and vice versa. PALF treated with hot water showed more color change than alkali treated PALF. For instance, hot water treated PALF registered a maximum color change of 23.692 while the alkali treated PALF showed a maximum color change of 19.721 making the alkali treated PALF less appreciable with respect to color change in the textile industry. However, the latter showed better surface properties than hot water treated PALF. Finally, a mechanical PALF extractor machine was built and tested for its ability to extract PALF for commercial applications. PALF industrialization in the textile market is emerging as it offers many bio sustainable applications, thus opening new doors for new business ideas and industries oriented towards producing biodegradable and eco-friendly products.
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| Format: | info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
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Universidad EARTH
2016-12
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| Subjects: | TRATAMIENTO DE DESECHOS, COMPOST, ELABORACION DEL COMPOST, PIÑA, FIBRAS VEGETALES, ANANAS COMOSUS, https://purl.org/pe-repo/ocde/ford#2.08.00, |
| Online Access: | https://repositorio.earth.ac.cr/handle/UEARTH/582 |
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