Extraction and Characterization of Cellulosic Fibers from Jenfokie and Doby Stems: Effect of Extraction Methods on Physicochemical, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties

Abstract

This experimental study aims to explore natural lignocellulosic fibers from Jenfokie and Doby plants. The effect of the fiber (water-retted and non-retted) extraction methods on physical, mechanical, thermal, chemical, and crystallinity properties were experimentally investigated for fibers collected from the eastern highlands of Ethiopia. The chemical composition (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives, etc.) was determined after different treatment processes. The tensile strength maximum of up to 72 cN/tex and 56 cN/tex, and cellulose content up to 85% and 81% were obtained for Jenfokie and Doby retted extracted fibers, respectively. There was small difference lignin extracted by Klason method and the alkaline hydrogen peroxide (APH) method. Each step-wise extracted fiber was characterized to cognize the intrinsic changes during the multi-step extraction process. The diameters were determined by Optical Microscope (OM), the removal of non-cellulosic materials by Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, the thermal stability (up to 375°C) by thermogravimetry (TGA), and the crystallinity index (up to 73%) by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD). An improvement in cellulose content, density, moisture absorption, tensile strength, thermal stability, and crystallinity of Jenfokie (unstudied or new) and Doby plant retted fibers would be promising for composite and textile materials.