Evaluation of Biodegradation of Pineapple Leaf Fiber Reinforced PVA Composites

Abstract

Composites of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) reinforced with different weight percentages of pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) were fabricated and evaluated for biodegradation by soil burial test and plate test. FTIR analysis indicated the existence of a chemical interaction between PVA and PALF. The water uptake study showed that the composites with higher fiber content displayed high tensile strength and brittleness but possessed lower water uptake potential. In the soil burial test, the composites with low matrix to filler ratios exhibited higher rates of degradation as evident by the associated decrease in molecular weights. Plate test performed using Pseudomonas putida showed that the composites were susceptible for degradation by bacteria. The results of this study indicated that PALF-reinforced PVA composites were completely biodegradable and could find potential applications in industries such as agriculture and packaging and safely disposed after use without causing environmental damage.

Keywords:

• polyvinyl alcohol
• pineapple leaf fiber
• composites
• biodegradability
• soil burial test
• plate test
• biodegradation
• molecular weight loss