Agave sisalana: towards distributed manufacturing of absorbent media for menstrual pads in semi-arid regions

Abstract

Agaves are robust, drought tolerant plants that have been cultivated for their high-strength fibers for centuries and they hold promise as a crop in the face of increasing water scarcity associated with a warming planet. Meanwhile, millions of women lack access to sanitary products to safely manage their menstruation particularly in low- and middle-income countries characterized by a dry climate. To address this issue, we show a processing route that transforms the leaves of the succulent Agave sisalana into a highly absorbent and retentive (23 g/g) material. The process involves delignification combined with mechanical fluffing to increase affinity for water and porosity, respectively. This process leads to a material with an absorption capacity exceeding those found in commercially available products such as menstrual pads. Finally, the carbon footprint and water usage associated with this process are comparable to those with common alternatives with the added benefit that it can be carried out at small scales while remaining environmentally sustainable. Our work represents a step towards distributed manufacturing of essential health and hygiene products based on a local bioeconomy.