Extraction and Characterization of Corn Leaf Fiber

ABSTRACT

Corn leaves were collected after harvesting corn and the fibers were extracted by water retting. The fibers were subjected to alkali treatment in order to enhance the mechanical as well as handle properties. The physico-mechanical properties of the retted and alkali-treated corn leaf fibers were analyzed using various analytical and statistical methods. The change in chemical composition due to alkali treatment was determined using Fourier transmission infrared spectroscopy and chemical composition analysis. Results inferred that 15 days retting gives better quality of fibers. The alkali treatment resulted in the removal of lignin, fats, and waxes as well as the disintegration of individual fibers from the retted fiber bunch. Bundle strength, elongation, and moisture properties were found to improve after chemical treatment. The study shows that corn leaf fiber has good potential in technical textile applications.

摘要

玉米收获后采集玉米叶片，用水抽提法提取纤维. 为了提高纤维的机械性能和手感，对纤维进行了碱处理. 采用多种分析和统计方法对脱胶和碱处理后的玉米叶纤维的物理力学性能进行了分析. 采用傅立叶红外光谱和化学成分分析法测定了碱处理引起的化学成分变化. 结果表明，15天的脱胶处理能提高纤维质量. 碱处理导致木质素、脂肪和蜡的去除以及脱胶纤维束中单个纤维的分解. 发现经化学处理后，纤维束的伸长率、断裂强度均得到改善. 研究表明，玉米叶纤维在纺织工业中具有良好的应用潜力.

KEYWORDS:

• Corn leaves
• natural fiber
• retting
• chemical treatment
• agro-waste
• fiber extraction

关键词:

• 关键词
• 玉米叶
• 天然纤维
• 脱胶
• 化学处理
• 农业废弃物
• 纤维提取