Title: Surface modification of eco-friendly ligno-cellulosic fibre extracted from Lagenaria siceraria plant agro waste: a sustainable approach

Authors: N. Saravanan; P.S. Sampath; T.A. Sukantha

Addresses: Department of Mechatronics Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India ' Department of Chemistry, K.S. Rangasamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode 637215, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract: Recent research on green composites addresses the environmental threats of solid waste disposal by suggesting sustainable methods. This study aims at identifying potential reinforcement of lignocellulosic fibre extracted from the solid agro waste pile of Lagenaria siceraria (LS) plant. The thermal stability and mechanical strength of raw L. siceraria fibres (LSFs) were modified by alkali treatment (2%-15% w/v of NaOH) at different temperatures (room temperature to 70°C) and time intervals (30 min to 6 h). The result showed that 4% alkali treatment at 45°C for 40 min improves the physicochemical properties of the LSFs. The higher cellulose content (86.49%) and lower hemicellulose (4.23%) and lignin (6.98%) content of optimally treated LSFs significantly improve the mechanical property with a higher tensile strength (436.8 N), elongation at break (5.47%) and thermal stability (355.5°C) compared to raw LSFs. It was found that the alkali-treated fibres with additional toughness and fatigue strength reduce environmental threats by sustainable development.

Keywords: sustainable approach; surface modification; mechanical property; thermal stability; Lagenaria siceraria fibre; LSF; solid waste.

DOI: 10.1504/IJESD.2018.096863

International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 2018 Vol.17 No.4, pp.366 - 378

Received: 29 Jul 2017
Accepted: 08 Dec 2017
Published online: 12 Dec 2018 *

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