Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Optimization of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Extraction Methods and Their Biodegradabilities for Soil Cover Application

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Polymers and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Cellulosic natural fibres from pineapple leaves are considered as a green alternative to the conventional polyethylene (PE) soil cover in agro-industry. The use of pineapple leaf fibres (PALFs) soil cover can overcome the disposal problem of the conventional plastic covers which take hundreds of years to degrade. This research was undertaken to study the effectiveness methods of extracting the PALFs. The mechanical method utilized ‘roller and bladder system’, where the chemical method involved the extraction with 6% NaOH, 20% aqueous acetone, and pineapple juice solution. The semi-mechanical method was a combination of “roller and bladder” system and a chemical retting process using 6% NaOH alkaline solutions. The characteristics of the extracted fibers were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Kappa number test of the fibres extracted with semi-mechanical method showed the lowest percentage of lignin (3.39%). Based on XRD results, the highest percentage of crystallinity was recorded when PALF was extracted using the semi-mechanical method. A remarkable change on the morphological surface the biodegraded PALF soil cover was observed after 90 days of soil burial test. Biodegradability of soil cover made from PALF was higher than the commercial degradable soil cover i.e. PE/starch (80 wt% PE/ 20 wt% starch). Meanwhile, the growing rate and the soil fertility of chili tree that used PALFs soil cover showed better results than the chili tree that used conventional PE/starch soil cover.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Rosma AL, Mohd AMN, Wan NWA (2005) Optimization of single cell protein production by Candida utilise using juice extracted from pineapple waste through Response Surface Methodology. Malays J Microbiol 1:18–24

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ketnawa S, Chaiwut P, Rawdkuen S (2012) Pineapple wastes: a potential source for bromelain extraction. Food Bioprod Process 90(3):385–391

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Moya R, Camacho D (2014) Production of natural fiber obtained from the leaves of pineapple plants (Ananas comosus) cultivated in Costa Rica. Biomass Bioenergy 111–24.

  4. Shyamal B, Debasis Nag, Sanjoy D (2011) Utilization of pineapple leaf agro waste for extraction of fibre and the residual biomass for vermicomposting. Indian J Fibre Text Res 36(2):172–177

    Google Scholar 

  5. Kengkhetkit N, Amornsakchai T (2012) Utilisation of pineapple leaf waste for plastic reinforcement: 1. A novel extraction method for short pineapple leaf fibre. Ind Crops Prod 40(0):55–61

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Debnath S, Ganguly PK, De SS, Nag D (2010) Control of soil moisture and temperature by light weight jute fabrics. J Inst Eng (India) Text Eng 90(2):16–19

    Google Scholar 

  7. Nag D, Debnath S, Ganguly PK, Ghosh SK (2010) Efficient management of soil moisture by jute geotextile for cultivation of horticultural crops in red lateritic zone. J Inst Eng (India) 91(1):21–24

    Google Scholar 

  8. Kyrikou I (2011) Analysis of photo-chemical degradation behaviour of polyethylene mulching film with pro-oxidants. Polym Degrad Stab 96(12):2237–2252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gautam N, Kaur I (2013) Soil burial biodegradation studies of starch grafted polyethylene and identification of Rhizobium meliloti therefrom. J Environ Chem 5(6):147–158

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ammala A (2011) An overview of degradable and biodegradable polyolefins. Prog Polym Sci 36(8):1015–1049

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ajioka M (1995) The basic properties of poly (lactic acid) produced by the direct condensation polymerization of lactic acid. J Environ Polym Degrad 3(4):225–234

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Mishra S (2001) Potentiality of pineapple leaf fibre as reinforcement in PALF-polyester composite: surface modification and mechanical performance. J Reinf Plast Compos 20(4):321–334

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Kugan R, Sarsby R (2011) In-soil biodegradation of palm mat geotextiles. Land Degrad Dev 22(5):463–471.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Sapuan S (2013) Mechanical properties of soil buried kenaf fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane composites. Mater Des 50:467–470.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Kalia S, Kaith BS, Kaur I (2009) Pretreatments of natural fibres and their application as reinforcing material in polymer composites-a review. Polym Eng Sci 49(7):1253–1272

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Kalia S (2011) Cellulose-based bio- and nanocomposites: a review. Int J Polym Sci 20(11):1–35

    Google Scholar 

  17. Shalwan A, Yousif BF (2013) In State of art: mechanical and tribological behaviour of polymeric composites based on natural fibres. Mater Des 48(0):14–24

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Supriya M, Drzal LT, Manjusri M, Georg H (2004) A Review on pineapple leaf fibres, Sisal Fibres and Their Biocomposites Macromol Mater Eng 289 (20):955–974

    Google Scholar 

  19. Wei MW, Jian YY (2008) Study on the chemical modification process of jute fibre. J Eng Fibres Fabr 3(2):1–11

    Google Scholar 

  20. Sheltami RM (2012) Extraction of cellulose nanocrystals from mengkuang leaves (Pandanus tectorius). Carbohydr Polym 88(2):772–779

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Reddy N, Yang Y (2005) Biofibres from agricultural by products for industrial applications. Trends Biotechnol 23(1):22–27

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dufresne A (2008) Cellulose-based composites and nanocomposites in monomers. Polym Compos Renew Resour 401–418

  23. Moya R, Solano M (2012) Behavior of a portable solar dryer for pineapple fiber. Ciencia e Agrotecnologia 36(6):674–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Yoldas MS, Kutlay S, Cenk DK (2013) Extraction and properties of Ferula communis (chakshir) fibres as novel reinforcement for composites materials. Compos Part B 44(1):517–523

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Sunil PM (2012) Extraction of pineapple leaf fibre and its spinning: A Review. Fibre 2 1(2):215–224

  26. Uma DLJ, Manikandan KC, Sabu T (2004) Ageing studies of pineapple leaf fibre–reinforced polyester composites. J Appl Polym Sci 94(2):503–510

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Li ZS (2006) The effect of fibre surface lignin on interfibre bonding. J Wood Chem Technol 26:231–244

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. ASTM International (1975) Standard Test Method for Tensile Strength and Young’s Modulus for High Modulus Single Filament Fibers (D3379).

  29. Obi RK (2013) Tensile and structural characterization of alkali treated Borassus fruit fine fibres. Compos Part B Eng 44(1):433–438.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Rawal A, Sayeed MMA (2014) Tailoring the structure and properties of jute blended nonwoven geotextiles via alkali treatment of jute fibres. Mater Des 53(0):701–705.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Roy A (2012) Improvement in mechanical properties of jute fibres through mild alkali treatment as demonstrated by utilisation of the Weibull distribution model. Bioresour Technol 107(0):222–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Norul IMA (2013) Effects of fibre treatment on morphology, tensile and thermogravimetric analysis of oil palm empty fruit bunches fibres. Compos Part B Eng 45(1):1251–1257.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  33. Dhakal HN, Zhang ZY, Richardson MOW (2007) Effect of water absorption on the mechanical properties of hemp fibre reinforced unsaturated polyester composites. Compos Sci Technol 67(7–8):1674–1683

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Sawpan MA, Pickering KL, Fernyhough A (2011) Effect of various chemical treatments on the fibre structure and tensile properties of industrial hemp fibres. Compos Part A Appl Sci Manuf 42(8):888–895.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Ben SAE (2012) Morphological and crystalline characterization of NaOH and NaOCl treated Agave americana L. fibre. Ind Crops Prod 36(1):257–266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Suess HU (2010) Pulp bleaching today. Walter de Gruyter

  37. Sena NAR (2013) Characterization and comparative evaluation of thermal, structural, chemical, mechanical and morphological properties of six pineapple leaf fibre varieties for use in composites. Ind Crops Prod 43(0):529–537

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Garside P, Wyeth P (2003) Identification of cellulosic fibres by FTIR spectroscopy-thread and single fibre analysis by attenuated total reflectance. Stud Conserv 48(4):269–275.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Ibrahim NA, Hadithon KA, Abdan K (2010) Effect of fibre treatment on mechanical properties of kenaf fibre-ecoflex composites. J Reinf Plast Compos 29(14):2192–2198

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  40. Abraham EBD, Pothan LA, Jacob M, Thomas S, Cvelbar U, Anandjiwala R (2011) Extraction of nanocellulose fibrils from lignocellulosic fibres: a novel approach. Carbohydr Polym 86:1468–1475

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  41. Le MN, Navard P (2010) Dissolution mechanisms of wood cellulose fibres in NaOH–water. Cellulose 17(1):31–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  42. Microbes S (2010) Understanding soil microbes and nutrient recycling. Actinomycetes 107(108):40–500

    Google Scholar 

  43. Perez J (2002) Biodegradation and biological treatments of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin: an overview. Int Microbiol 5(2):53–63

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Lazcano C (2013) Short-term effects of organic and inorganic fertilizers on soil microbial community structure and function. Biol Fert Soils 49(6):723–733

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology and Biopolymer Research Group Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering Universiti Teknologi Malaysia who provided the research with related facilities and equipment. Highest appreciation goes to the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia for their financial support.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Vehicle System Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

    S. Sarah, W. J. Yahya & A. K. Hasannuddin

  2. Faculty of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Biopolymer Research Group, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    S. Sarah, W. A. W. A. Rahman, R. A. Majid, N. Adrus & J. H. Low

Authors
  1. S. Sarah
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. A. W. A. Rahman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. R. A. Majid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. J. Yahya
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. N. Adrus
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. A. K. Hasannuddin
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. J. H. Low
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to S. Sarah.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Sarah, S., Rahman, W.A.W.A., Majid, R.A. et al. Optimization of Pineapple Leaf Fibre Extraction Methods and Their Biodegradabilities for Soil Cover Application. J Polym Environ 26, 319–329 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-0942-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-017-0942-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation