Potential Of Banana Fiber Derived From Agricultural Waste For Sustainable Paper-Making

Abstract

This study investigates the potential of banana fiber as an eco-friendly and sustainable material for paper production. It highlights the extraction process of banana fiber from agricultural waste, and its physical and chemical properties, and examines its potential as an alternative to traditional wood-based pulp. The findings demonstrate that banana fiber offers comparable strength and quality to conventional paper materials while significantly reducing environmental impact. The banana stems for this study were collected from nearby banana plantation in Jengka, Pahang. The systematic process was carried out in raw material preparation, pulping, screening, disintegration, beating, and hand sheet formation. In the process of pulping, the chemical treatment of sodium hydroxide was applied to extract cellulose fibers. The fiber underwent different beating revolutions, which are 0 beating, 1000 beating, and 2000 beating revolutions to analyze their impact on the paper quality. Hand sheets were produced using a Cylinder Handsheet Papermaking machine and dried under heated platens. The resulting papers were tested for freeness, tearing strength, folding endurance, and burst strength. The freeness test assessed fiber refinement and bonding potential, while tearing strength and folding endurance indicated durability and flexibility. Burst strength measured pressure resistance, critical for packaging applications. The results support the fact that banana fiber demonstrates potential as a renewable alternative feedstock that is sustainable for paper industries. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and manufacturers interested in sustainable practices in the paper industry.