Biofiber from Musa paradisiaca L., Peduncle Biomass Waste: Extraction and Characterization for Polymer Composites Suitability Study

Abstract

The Musa paradisiaca L. peduncle natural fiber (MPPNF) was characterized by atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), chemical analysis (CA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), single fiber tensile test (SF-TS), X-Ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AFM result suggests that this fiber has less impurity and a spiky topology. The FTIR graph confirms the presence of cellulose (CE) as there is a disappearance of C-O stretch at 1305 cm−1 peak. Chemical analysis shows a CE content of 67.9%. The SF-TS has shown that the TS of the fiber is 172 MPa. The modulus and elongation % were evidenced as 4.81 GPa and 4.8%, respectively. The results obtained suggest that it has a crystallinity index (CI) of 48%. The density of this fiber was found to be 1040 kg/m3. The thermal stability of the fiber remains intact until the degradation occurs at 339°C. All the above results convincingly prove that this MPPNF can be used as reinforcement for composites.

Keywords

• Musa paradisiaca L
• peduncle
• natural fiber
• cellulosic fiber
• biomass
• biofiber