Effect of Fiber Chemical Treatments on Performance of Date Palm Fibers Using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The objective of this study is to investigate the effect of optimized alkali treatment on the lignin reduction of date palm fibers. This kind of fiber treatment is used to improve the performance of natural fibers. The experiments conducted by central composite design (CCD) through response surface methodology (RSM) with four independent factors, each at five levels. Raw fibers underwent a surface modification method by alkali treatment with four independent variables, hydrogen peroxide (2–6 wt %), sodium hydroxide (3–7 wt %), temperature (30–46°C), and treatment time (14–18 h). The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, tensile properties, and thermal gravimetry analysis of untreated, treated, and optimized treated fibers were investigated. The results showed that the optimized levels for hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide were 4.9 and 5.2 wt %. The optimum temperature and treatment time were found to be 38.8°C and 17.8 h, respectively. At the optimized values of the independent variables, the lignin content of the fibers was 10.11%. Meantime, the tensile test results show that alkali treatment with optimized values improves the performance of fibers, although no high values are obtained. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 38:e13146, 2019