Eco-Friendly softening for banana Fibers from Sri Lankan banana cultivar: Influence on physical and chemical Properties on banana Fibers

• Published in: Journal of Natural Fibers
• Main Authors: Subashini Balakrishnan, G.L. Dharmasri Wickramasinghe, U.G. Samudrika Wijayapala.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2022-10-01
• Subjects: banana fiber; pectinase enzyme; single fiber strength; fiber diameter
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15440478.2021.1982811
• ISSN: 1544-0478; 1544-046X

The main focus of this research is the degumming of pseudostem and enzyme treatment of banana fiber for textile applications and investigating the relationship between banana fiber enzyme degumming and enzyme treatment parameters and fiber properties. To examine the physical and mechanical properties of the fibers, the five varieties (Ambun, Ambul, Atamuru, Puwalu and Kolikuttu) of the selected banana fibers that were mechanically extracted were examined further. These five banana varieties were subjected to mechanical and enzyme degumming methods. Banana fibers were treated using different enzyme concentrations and different time durations. The biologically extracted (degumming of pseudostem) fiber was found to have reduced its diameter from 357.9 µm to 140.23 µm, which is about a 60.8% diameter reduction compared to the diameter value of the mechanically extracted fiber. Pectinase enzyme treatment had reduced its diameter from 213.2 µm to 90.6 µm, which is about a 57.5% reduction compared to the mechanically extracted fibers.