Effects of different extraction methods on some properties of water hyacinth fiber

Abstract

The objective of this research was to study the effects of using extraction procedures on raw water hyacinth fiber to produce an improved quality of fiber, applying different methods of extraction. The mechanical extraction method for water hyacinth fiber extraction was first employed using a semi-automatic fiber extraction machine to grate the outer stems of the water hyacinth. Following this, several extraction approaches were used, including the mechanical, chemical, natural alkali, retting, and boiling extraction procedures. The aim was to obtain a rapid and efficient outcome, which is ideal for production in industrial use. The results showed that the chemical composition of water hyacinth consisted of 72.17% cell walls, 52.63% lignocelluloses, 2.25% lignin, 54% hemicelluloses, and 50.38% cellulose. The water hyacinth fibers were 30–50 cm in length and approximately 50 µm in diameter. The result from the fiber extraction process comprising the mechanical method, followed by the chemical extraction method, created an even surface texture, with the highest number of split fibers after the process.

Keywords

• fiber
• water hyacinth
• extraction
• tenacity
• morphology
• textile