New Cellulosic Fibers from Washingtonia Tree Agro-wastes: Structural, Morphological, and Thermal Properties

ABSTRACT

Washingtonia is a palm tree that enriched with lignocellulosic biomass, which provided it with the potentiality for various applications. In this study, different biomass from Washingtonia plant, i.e. leaf stalk (W-LS), trunk core (W-TC), and trunk spine (W-TS) fibers, were collectively investigated by characterization. Under scanning electron microscopy (SEM) examination, the spine-shape structure of W-TS fiber along with its small particle size might facilitate it for fabrication reactivity. From chemical and elemental composition analysis, both W-TC and W-TS fibers were found with high cellulose content, while with the closely similar residual elements, suggesting them from the same source of trunk segment. However, the low cellulose content of W-LS fiber with its high ash content had somehow reduced its crystallinity and thermal stability properties. From X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, the crystallinity was estimated the highest for W-TS (68.2%), and while with the lowest for W-LS fiber (57.3%), which in line with the detected functional groups by Fourier Transform Infrared-ray (FTIR) spectrophotometry. In thermogravimetry (TGA) analysis, all fibers possessed great thermal resistance with T_onset in the range of 307.4–328.1°C and T_peak in the range of 352.4–347.9°C. Washingtonia fiber had a high potential to be applied as a bio-material for versatile applications in the future.

摘要

华星桐是一种富含木质纤维素的棕榈树, 具有广阔的应用前景. 本研究以华星桐属植物叶柄 (W-LS), 茎核 (W-TC) 和茎棘 (W-TS) 纤维为材料, 对其生物量进行了表征。在扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 下观察到, W-TS纤维的脊状结构及其较小的粒径有助于提高其制备反应性. 化学成分和元素组成分析表明, W-TC和W-TS纤维中纤维素含量较高, 而残余元素含量相近, 表明它们来自同一主干段. 然而, 纤维素含量低, 灰分含量高的W-LS纤维在一定程度上降低了其结晶度和热稳定性. X射线衍射 (XRD) 分析表明, W-TS的结晶度最高 (68.2%), 而W-LS纤维的结晶度最低 (57.3%), 这与傅立叶变换红外光谱法 (FTIR) 检测到的官能团一致. 在热重分析 (TGA) 中, 所有纤维都具有很高的热阻, 色调在307.4-328.1°C之间, 峰值在352.4-347.9°C之间. 瓦辛顿纤维纤维作为生物材料具有广阔的应用前景.

关键词: 瓦辛顿纤维:

• 化学成分
• 形态特征
• 形态特征
• X射线衍射分析
• 结构性质
• 热稳定性
• KEYWORDS
• Washingtonia fiber
• chemical composition
• morphological properties
• X-ray diffraction analysis
• structural properties
• thermal stability

Acknowledgments

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number IFKSURG-1435-052.

Additional information

Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research & Innovation, Ministry of Education, Saudi Arabia for funding this research work through the project number IFKSURG-1435-052.