Fibre Characteristics and Strength Properties of Nigerian Pineapple Leaf (Ananas cosmosus), Banana Peduncle and Banana Leaf (Musa sapientum) – Potential Green Resources for Pulp and Paper Production

Aims: The study investigated the suitability of three agricultural wastes commonly found in Nigeria namely Pineapple leaf (Ananas cosmosus), banana peduncle and banana leaf (Musa sapientum) for their pulp and paper-making potentials.

Study Design: Fresh Musa sapientum waste and pineapple leaves were obtained from banana plantation and local pineapple processing firms around the vicinity of the Institute. The samples were processed, characterized for fibre properties, pulped and converted to handsheets. The properties of the fibre and paper were compared to the properties of non-wood and woody biomass found in Nigeria.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in the pulp and paper laboratory of the Federal Institute of Industrial research Oshodi, Lagos between January 2015 and December 2015. Paper testing was carried out in the pulp and paper laboratory of the Centre for Wood Science, University of Hamburg, Germany during the same period.

Methodology: Pulp samples were produced from the selected materials in a thermostatically controlled autoclave using the soda pulping method with 7% Sodium hydroxide at 120°C. Partially delignified pulp samples were macerated in equal volume of 10% glacial acetic acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide and thereafter studied under a Visopam microscope at × 10 mm x 8 mm magnification for fibre morphological properties such as fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width, cell wall thickness and derived morphological indices. Handmade paper sheets were produced from the pulp samples and tested for strength properties. Data obtained was analyzed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA).

Results: Results show that banana peduncle and banana leaf, with average fibre lengths of 1.27 mm and 0.88 mm respectively, are short-fiber resources while pineapple leaf has a longer fibre length of 2.92 mm. The average fibre diameter and lumen width of pineapple leaf, banana peduncle and banana leaf were 12.08/7.84 µm, 15.81/11.56 µm and 9.79/3.84 µm respectively. All studied samples possessed thin cell wall (2.13 – 3.46 µm). The Runkel Ratios for the three sample agricultural waste raw materials, namely; pineapple leaf, banana peduncle and banana leaf were 0.88, 0.37 and 1.69 respectively. Banana peduncle and pineapple leaf were found to be good sources of elastic fibres. Handmade paper sheets produced displayed impressive strength properties.

Conclusion: The three studied agricultural wastes have impressive fibre characteristics which compare very well with other non-wood and woody biomass found in Nigeria. Hand sheets produced from the unbeaten pulp of these agricultural wastes display good properties which make them useful in applications such as in food wrapping, newsprint and handmade crafts. Beating and refining of the pulp from these materials can impact significantly on the quality of handsheets produced.