Effect of Alkali Treatment on the Structure and Properties of Natural Cellulose Fibers from Areca Cathechu Shells

ABSTRACT

Natural cellulose fibers with high cellulose and lignin content and elongation as high as 45% similar to that of coir were extracted from the shells of Areca cathechu for potential use for composite, textile and other applications. Areca shells are removed to obtain the nuts and are disposed as waste with no significant value. The shells are lignocellulosic in nature and have antioxidant properties and usefulfor medical applications. Some attempts have been made to utilize the shells as reinforcement for composites, conversion into carbon etc. In this research, we have subject areca shells to extensive alkali treatment to obtain cellulose rich fibers. Alkali treatment resulted in compositional, structural and morphological changes to the fibers depending on the concentration of alkali and treatment time. Tensile strength increased from 23 to 59 MPa and elongation from 34% to 45%. Although, there was no major change in the composition of the fibers, the diameter of the fibers decreased by about 50% and thermal stability showed substantial improvement. Morphological changes included increase in pores and surface appearance. Fibers obtained in this research show potential for composite and other applications. Using areca nut shells for fibrous applications could lead to substantial value addition and eventual use of the shells as sustainable sources for materials and products.

摘要

从槟榔壳中提取出半纤维素和木质素含量高, 延伸率高达45%的天然纤维素, 可用于复合材料, 纺织和其他应用. 槟榔壳被移除以获得坚果, 并作为废物处理, 没有显著价值. 贝壳是木质纤维质的, 具有抗氧化性, 用于医疗用途. 已经尝试将槟榔壳用作复合材料的增强材料, 转化为碳等. 在本研究中, 我们对槟榔壳进行了广泛的碱处理, 以获得富含纤维素的纤维. 碱处理会导致纤维的成分, 结构和形态发生变化, 这取决于碱的浓度和处理时间. 拉伸强度从23 MPa增加到59 MPa, 伸长率从34%增加到45%. 虽然纤维的组成没有大的变化, 但纤维的直径减少了约50%, 热稳定性也有了很大的改善. 形态变化包括气孔增加和表面外观. 本研究中获得的纤维显示出复合材料和其他应用的潜力. 使用槟榔壳作为原料和产品的可持续来源, 可以带来可观的附加值, 并最终将槟榔壳用作材料和产品的可持续来源.

KEYWORDS:

• Areca cathechu
• biofibers
• natural cellulose fibers
• composition
• extraction
• areca shells

关键词:

• 槟榔
• 生物纤维
• 天然纤维素纤维
• 作文
• 提取
• 槟榔壳

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful for the financial support of this project provided by the

National Program on Key Research Project (Grant No. 2016YFC0400504), China Postdoctoral Foundation Project (Grant No.2017M611419) and Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Grant No. 2232020D-20). Prajwal Battampara, Vijaykumar Guna and Narendra Reddy thank the center for Incubation, Innovation, Research and Consultancy for their support to complete this research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).