Enhancing Banana Fibre Properties for Waste Stabilization and Possible Industrial Applications through Chemical Modification

Abstract

Natural fibres have emerged as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fibres 
because of their biodegradability, renewability, low density, and reduced 
environmental impact. Among these, banana fibres (Musa sapientum), obtained from 
agricultural waste, offer significant potential as reinforcement materials in 
composite applications. This study investigated the chemical extraction and 
structural modification of banana fibres to enhance their sorption and mechanical 
properties through sequential retting, scouring, bleaching, and mercerization 
treatments. The effects of bleaching time, temperature, and hydrogen peroxide 
concentration on fibre performance were systematically evaluated to establish 
optimum processing conditions. Moisture imbibition increased considerably 
following chemical treatment, indicating improved fibre surface activity and 
hydrophilicity. The highest moisture absorption capacity of 58.5% was obtained at 
a bleaching temperature of 100°C after 40 min of treatment. Fibres bleached with 
5% and 10% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) exhibited high equilibrium moisture 
absorption, while mercerized fibres processed under the same conditions recorded 
substantially higher equilibrium moisture contents of 80% and 90%, respectively. 
Mechanical evaluation further revealed that fibres bleached with 2% H₂O₂ and 
subsequently mercerized with 22% sodium hydroxide (NaOH) exhibited superior 
load–elongation characteristics compared with fibres treated using higher 
hydrogen peroxide concentrations (10% and 15% H₂O₂), indicating that excessive 
oxidant concentrations may adversely affect fibre integrity. Based on the 
experimental results, an effective bleaching condition of 2–5% H₂O₂ at 100°C for 
40 min was established for achieving an optimal balance between sorption and 
mechanical performance. Overall, the study demonstrates that controlled chemical 
modification is an effective strategy for enhancing the functional properties of 
banana fibres, thereby promoting their utilization as sustainable reinforcement 
materials in polymer composites and other environmentally friendly engineering and 
industrial applications.