Physical and Chemical Properties of a New Cellulose Fiber Extracted from the Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyroyal) Plant’s Stem

Abstract

Ecological problems, high cost, and non-renewability of petroleum and its derivatives have increased the research on new sustainable natural products. For this purpose, the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of Mentha pulegium L. (MPL) fiber, which may have potential for use in textile and composite sectors, were determined by extraction and characterization. Fiber density, length, and diameter were detected by physical tests. Cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin ratios of the fiber were obtained by chemical analysis and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic analysis. The surface morphology was identified by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, and the chemical components on the fiber surface were discovered by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Thermal degradation values of the fiber were found by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and the fiber’s mechanical properties were determined by tensile test. As a result of the tests and analysis, MPL fiber has shown that it has potential for use in textiles and fiber reinforced composites.