Effect of Alkali Treatment of Nettle Fibers on Oil Absorbency

ABSTRACT

Nettle is a cellulosic plant fiber with a reasonably large lumen and they are a cheap, easily renewable source of fibers with the potential for oil absorbency. To the author’s best knowledge, there are no published data available on the oil absorbency behavior of alkali-treated nettle fibers. In this work, alkali treatment on nettle fibers was carried out with a view to improve their oil absorbency. The effects of treatment time, temperature, concentration, and solid: liquor ratio of nettle fibers on oil absorbency was assessed. As compared to raw nettle fibers, the oil absorbency of alkali-treated nettle fibers was considerably higher. Nettle fibers were also characterized by FTIR, TGA, SEM, and reusability tests. Oil absorbency capacity of alkali-treated nettle fibers has also been compared with other natural materials.

摘要

荨麻是一种纤维素植物纤维，具有相当大的管腔，是一种廉价、易再生的纤维来源，具有吸油潜力. 据作者所知，目前还没有关于碱处理荨麻纤维吸油性能的公开数据. 为了提高荨麻纤维的吸油性能，对荨麻纤维进行了碱处理. 研究了处理时间、温度、浓度、固液比等因素对荨麻纤维吸油性能的影响. 与生荨麻纤维相比，碱处理荨麻纤维的吸油性能明显提高. 通过FTIR、TGA、SEM和重复使用试验对荨麻纤维进行了表征. 并与其它天然材料的吸油性能进行了比较.

KEYWORDS:

• Nettle
• alkali
• oil absorbency
• vegetable oil
• reusability
• cellulose material

Acknowledgments

The authors thank M/s University Grant Commission (UGC), Government of India for Sponsoring this Project under UGC Major Research Scheme (F.No-43-158/2014).

Additional information

Funding

The authors thank M/s University Grant Commission (UGC), Government of India for Sponsoring this Project under UGC Major Research Scheme (F.No-43-158/2014).