Comparison between Water-Retted and Enzyme-Treated Decorticated Banana Fibres

Background Banana is one of India’s most cultivated crops, with an estimated area of 880 thousand hectares. The banana pseudo stems, which are the residue of banana cultivation (accounting for approximately 30 tonnes per acre in one crop season), are generally left in fields or taken to open dumps or burnt along the roadside, where they produce greenhouse gases. Banana fibres extracted from a pseudostem with alpha-cellulose and low lignin content are underutilized for use in different applications. Method The present study aimed to optimize the removal of tissues on fibres using the pectinase enzyme at various concentrations and to compare the diameter and strength of the fibres with those of water-retted fibres. The fibre diameter was determined through scanning electron microscopy. The tensile strength was evaluated using a universal tensile tester. Result & Conclusion The results indicated the potential of using enzyme-treated banana fibres for textile applications.