Analysis of the characterization of NaOH-treated natural cellulose fibre extracted from banyan aerial roots

Abstract

Natural fibre is renewable and extensively utilized for structural and medicinal applications. The current research concentrates on surface modification for fibre enhancement using an alkaline treatment technique to extract raw fibre from banyan (Ficus benghalensis) aerial root bark. Using a 10% NaOH solution, attempts have been made to improve the crystalline, surface, thermal, physical, and chemical properties of banyan aerial root fibre (BAF). Five samples of BAF were produced by soaking the unprocessed fibre in an alkaline solution for variable amounts of time. On the surface of the treated BAF, a higher concentration of cellulose could be seen. The X-Ray Diffraction test revealed that the crystallinity index improved by 52%, with a crystalline dimension of 51.2 nm. It was observed that the crystalline content is increased in treated Banyan aerial root fiber due to this alkali treatment. The significance of natural fibre characterization is also briefly discussed, and this summary will serve as a resource for future studies on natural fibre composites by other researchers.