Abstract:
The study aims to investigate the physical
properties of the banana pseudo-stem fibers extracted from
Ambun (AAA) cultivar, representing wet and dry climatic
zones in Sri Lanka. Banana stems were subjected to different
extraction methods. Physical decortication technique, chemical
(Sodium hydroxide) and biological enzymatic method were
used. Mechanical extraction resulted in coarser fiber with
moderate tenacity. Chemical extraction resulted in finer fiber
with lower tenacity. Biologically extracted fiber resulted in
higher tenacity. Layer-wise fibers mechanically extracted inner
and outer layer fibers indicated lower density and higher
tenacity values. Mechanically extracted fibers were subjected
to further treatments with Caustic Soda (NaOH), Hydrogen
Peroxide(H2O2), Combined scouring (NaOH and H2O2), and
Enzyme (Pectinase). Peroxide treatment resulted in finer fiber
and caustic treatment resulted in coarser fiber. Enzyme treated
fiber resulted in the lowest elongation and fiber treated with
caustic resulted highest elongation. Fiber treated with H2O2
result highest tenacity and caustic treatment on fiber results
lowest tenacity.
