Bleaching and Softening of Coir Fiber Using Averrhoa Bilimbi Extract

ABSTRACT

Bleaching and softening of the hard fiber “Coir” renders it suitable for use in the coir industry, which presently adopts various chemical treatment processes that are not eco-friendly. The present study aims at treatment of coir fibers with Averrhoa bilimbi for enhanced bleaching and softening. The quality of the treated fibers with respect to physical and chemical characterization viz. variation in lignin content, flexural rigidity to assess the degree of softness, light fastness, tensile strength and brightness index has been carried out. The treated fibers displayed remarkable increase in brightness index from 9.45 to 11.19. Removal of surface projections on the coir fiber upon treatment is evident from Scanning Electron Microscope images. These surface changes can be attributed to the fiber softening.

摘要

硬纤维“椰壳”的漂白和软化使其适合用于椰壳行业, 该行业目前采用各种不环保的化学处理工艺. 本研究旨在探讨用双叶扁豆处理椰壳纤维以增强漂白和软化. 处理后的纤维的物理和化学特性的质量, 即. 通过改变木质素含量, 抗弯刚度来评价其柔软度, 耐光性, 抗张强度和亮度指数. 处理后的纤维亮度指数从9.45提高到11.19. 从扫描电子显微镜图像可以明显看出, 处理后椰壳纤维的表面突起被去除. 这些表面变化可归因于纤维的软化.

KEYWORDS:

• Coir fiber
• softening
• flexural rigidity
• light fastness
• tensile strength
• brightness index

关键词:

• 椰壳纤维
• 软化
• 抗弯刚度
• 耐光性
• 抗拉强度
• 亮度指数

Acknowledgments

The first author greatly acknowledges the financial support provided by University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India. The second author is thankful to Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), an autonomous body of Government of Kerala, for providing the fellowship. The authors also thank Shri. Sudhir Garg, Chairman, Coir Board for extending the laboratory facilities of Central Coir Research Institute.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.