Extraction and characterization of cellulose single fiber from native Ethiopian Serte (Dracaena steudneri Egler) plant leaf

Abstract

Biomaterials are renewable sources which are widely distributed, locally accessible, high possibility of recycling and biodegradation behavior. This investigation deals with the extraction and characterizing of new fiber obtained from Serte plant leaf that is found in Ethiopia. The physical, chemical and mechanical characters of the fiber had been tested and comparison with other plant fibers was done for the first time. Optimization of fiber extraction process has been done by varying the extraction variables like NaOH concentration, temperature and extraction time. Fibers possessing 56% cellulose content along with significant amount of hemicellulose, lignin and ash with tensile strength of 330 MPa were obtained. FTIR as well as X-ray diffraction analysis were also done to further analyze the fiber. This new plant leaf fiber can be another alternative resource in place of synthetic fibers depending on their application such as reinforcing polymer matrices.

Keywords:

• Serte plant
• leaf fiber
• extraction
• lignocellulosic
• tensile strength