Opuntia spp. Fibre Characterisation to Obtain Sustainable Materials in the Composites Field.

Jessica Castellano,Francisco Romero,Myriam R Ventura,Zaida Ortega,María D Marrero,Antonio N Benitez

doi:10.3390/polym13132085

Jessica Castellano, Francisco Romero + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13132085

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Journal: Polymers	Publication Date: Jun 24, 2021
Citations: 12	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria

Abstract

Some studies have evaluated the use of Opuntia as reinforcement for polymeric matrices, obtaining good results in energy absorption tests and increasing the tensile elastic modulus. However, no studies focusing on the previous characterisation of the fibres and their treatment to improve compatibility with polymeric matrices have been found. This work analyses the chemical composition of Opuntia maxima (OM) and Opuntia dillenii (OD) cladodes and fibre, studying how different treatments influence it. AOAC 2000 methods were used to determine non-structural components and the Van Soest method was used to estimate structural components. Surface characteristics of the samples were also evaluated by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Opuntia fibre presented higher cellulose (50–66%) and lignin (6–14%) content and lower hemicellulose (8–13%) content than Opuntia cladodes (9–14% cellulose, 20–50% hemicellulose, 1–4% lignin). Despite the variability of lignocellulosic materials, OD cladodes treated with water and acetic acid achieved an increase in the structural components. Alkaline fibre treatment removed pectin and hemicellulose from the fibre surface, slightly increasing the cellulose content. Future research should evaluate whether the treated Opuntia fibre can improve the mechanical properties of reinforced polymer.

Highlights

Composites with vegetal fibres have received a lot of attention due to the need to develop materials that have new properties and that are more respectful to the environment at the same time
Despite the variability of wild plant materials, this paper has investigated the composition of Opuntia cladodes and fibre
Fibre structural components results (50–66% cellulose, 8–13% hemicellulose, and 6-14% lignin) suggest that it can be used for obtaining composites

Summary

Introduction

Composites with vegetal fibres have received a lot of attention due to the need to develop materials that have new properties and that are more respectful to the environment at the same time. Vegetal fibre demand has increased in the industrial sector, where its use is a trend thanks to its low density, low cost, low energy consumption, and biodegradability [1,2], among other factors, compared to synthetic fibres. They have some disadvantages, such as variable properties, matrix incompatibility, and moisture sensitivity [3,4,5,6]. New vegetal fibres with lower cost and greater availability than the commonly studied and used ones need to be evaluated [12]. This genus has an asynchronous reproduction and Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM), a photosynthetic adaptation to environmental stress that allows it to grow with a high level of efficiency under limited water conditions, adapting to arid areas and adverse environments [17]

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