Researchers have discovered a groundbreaking solution for extracting natural fibers from banana pseudo-stems using seawater as a retting agent. This innovative method not only conserves freshwater resources but also offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional retting processes. The study, published in the Journal of Bioresources and Bioproducts, sheds light on the potential of seawater retting to revolutionize the natural fiber industry. Bananas are a staple crop in many regions, and their pseudo-stems, which are typically discarded, hold immense potential as a renewable source of natural fibers.
Seawater Retting A GREEN Alternative
In a new paper, lead author Prince Hotor, of Egypt-Japan University of Science and Technology in Alexandria, and co-authors use seawater for the first time in retting banana pseudo-stems. The traditional retting process that involves the submersion of stalks in freshwater, consumes vast amounts of this precious resource. It is troubling in arid areas, where water supplies are scant.
To evaluate, the researchers performed a series of experiments for five weeks under non-sterilized and sterilization conditions observing the retting performance. During retting, the bacterial load and enzyme activity peaked in the second week respectively, suggesting a strong biological activity occurring. It was showed that the soaking in seawater allowed effectively removing lignin and other compounds which are harmful to fibers and this is beneficial for the quality of extracted fibres.
Protection of Fiber Quality via Seawater Retting
The FT-IR and XRD analyses indicated the conservation of the fibers’ quality and an increase in crystallinity index for all seawater retting treatment conditions The resulting quantity of fibers provides evidence that the seawater retting process not only removes a high content of fiber but also maintains the fibrous structure and properties for multiple applications.
Several bacterial isolates starched within the research possesses ligninolytic potentials, stocks of Bacillus velezensis, Shewanella sp., and Citrobacter amalonaticus is an essential factor in patterning retting process through hypo-degrading pseudo-stems lignocellulosic components.
Towards a Sustainable Future: Seawater Retting’s Potential
Such a study highlights the importance of seawater retting as a potential key player in cellulosic fiber extraction from banana pseudo-stems and hence lignocellulosic biomass. This process not only saves the fresh water but also others some available sea water resources where this procedure can be carried out as a suitable approach which is sustainable for economic concerns as well.
Overall, the study is a major stride in green materials science and also brings with it a novel fiber extraction process that is sustainable and resourceful. In a world plagued by water scarcity and environmental concerns regarding sustainable practices, the light this research sheds will contribute to the future of natural fiber.
