Experimental Procedures of Fiber Extraction from Spathodea Campanulata (African Tulip Tree) for Cord

Abstract

Spathodea campanulata is a plant which grows mainly in the tropical regions of Africa. In Ghana, the bark is used for medicinal and dyeing purposes. After extracting medicine or dye from the bark of Spathodea, the remnants are mostly dumped indiscriminately in the environment resulting in the blockage of drains which can cause flooding or water stagnancy which leads to breeding of mosquitos. The purpose of this study therefore is to produce cords from fibers extracted from the Spathodea campanulata tree bark based on experimental tests conducted as a way of recycling the fibers into useful products. Testing procedures revealed that, the retted fibers after washing weighed 29g (for using plantain peels), 31g (for using cow dung) and 31g (for using caustic soda) from an initial weight of 93g after crashing and drying the fibers. Twisting in the wet state helped the fibers to bond readily hence cord remained smother, twisted or untwisted. Further test procedures were conducted to check the tensile strength, water absorbency flammability and effects of sulphuric acid. The result reveals that the cord has low flammability, high water absorbency, brown colour and ability to withstand diluted sulphuric acid which is the strongest acid. Experimental results presented in the study proved the viability of producing cords from the fibers of Spathodea campanulata. It is therefore recommended that the Youth Employment Agency (YEA) should encourage the youth by providing them with financial support to explore more innovative ways of recycling Spathodea into useful products as a means of employment.