Assessment of coconut fibers for textile applications

Abstract

Brazil is the fourth larger producer in coconut fruit in the world. However, the industry processes only a small portion of coconut byproducts, which have caused serious environmental problems. The purpose of this article is to test an alternative for the recovery of coconut byproduct. In a series of experiments, recovered coconut fibers (coir) were treated to be employ in textile application. After initial classification and sampling, the fine coconut fibers were subjected to a simultaneous scouring and pre-bleaching process in a mild alkali solution together with hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). The fibers were first subjected to this treatment for 10 minutes at 80°C and then again for 20 minutes at the boiling point. The samples were then treated with a cationic softener for 10 minutes at 60°C. After this process, the physical and mechanical properties were measured and values proved not to be statistically significant. The article indicates some of the main obstacles when handling coconut fiber for textile applications and reveals that besides elongation, softness and homogeneity are essential for coconut fibers spinning. Findings in this investigation showed some improved results in relation to the previous literature in two aspects: Firstly, because the treatment did not harm the fibers quality; secondly, because due to the treatment the coconut fibers could be arranged in fibrous strands, which facilitated spinning and weaving for use in textile applications.

Nitrate removal from groundwater using chemically modified coconut husk based granular activated carbon: characterization of the adsorbent, kinetics and mechanism

“…Locally available lignocellulosic wastes such as coconut husk have good potentials for producing highly porous low-cost adsorbent for the removal of pollutants from the aqueous mediums [48,71,72]. The use of coconut husk for preparing activated carbon provides useful alternatives for the application of coconut husk in major coconut-producing countries like Brazil, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Sri Lanka that often have to deal with the organic matter disposal as well as copious phenolic compound emissions from these wastes [13,47,54,55].…”

Immobilization of Low-Cost Alternative Vegetable Peroxidase (Raphanus sativus L. peroxidase): Choice of Support/Technique and Characterization

“…The literature reports the immobilization of commercial peroxidase (HRP) by covalent binding (CB) and physical adsorption (PA) in a lignocellulosic material—sugarcane bagasse—as organic support [ 35 ]. In the same way, other enzymes were immobilized on coconut fiber [ 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 ], an important bio-residue of world agribusiness [ 40 , 41 ]. Calcium alginate microspheres also were used as organic support for enzyme immobilization due to be material of easy synthesis, inexpensive and non-toxic [ 42 , 43 , 44 ].…”

Fibras naturais e compósitos reforçados com fibras naturais: a motivação para sua pesquisa e desenvolvimento

“…This reason is widely used for natural matrix reinforced with natural fibers because completely biodegradable composites are obtained [3] [4]. The low-cost argument comes from the comparison with high-performance fibers [5], and in many cases, it is associated with the fact that the fibers are obtained as waste from other processes [6]. Regarding weight, it is mainly based on the comparison of densities with fibers such as glass, basalt, and boron [7].…”