Abstract
Date palm waste is an abundant agricultural residue in Tunisia and can be used for plastic reinforcement. Moreover, its use in plastic composites can help to reduce dependence on fossil resources for material production. In this work, the valorization of date palm residues was studied by employing high-yield processes following mechanical, chemical, and enzymatical treatments. Fibers obtained by soft chemical treatment with sodium hydroxide and enzymatic treatment with xylanases and pectinases were evaluated for their use in the reinforcement of plastic materials. The flexural strength property, truly relevant for structural, construction, automotive, or other market sectors, was adopted to assess the reinforcing potential of the fibers. Polypropylene was effectively reinforced with date palm fibers (60 wt.%), exhibiting a flexural strength increases of 80% (73.1 MPa), 93% (78.5 MPa), and 106% (83.9 MPa) for mechanical, chemical, and enzymatic fibers, respectively. The different treatments had an impact on the chemical composition of the fibers, and by extension on the final properties of the composites. The holocellulose content could provide good interfacial adhesion using a coupling agent, whereas the lignin content improved the dispersion of the phases. Two interesting outcomes were that the flexural performance of enzymatic fibers was like that of wood composites, whereas the specific flexural strength was comparable to that of glass fiber composites. Overall, the present work has shown the potential behind date palm waste in the composite sector when a specific property or application is desired. Novel treatments have been used for greater fiber compatibility, increasing the sustainability of the process, and improving the applicability of the palm residue.
Highlights
The necessity of a significant change in environmental management and the minimization of the impact produced by our society has motivated the development of environmentally sustainable products
The present study presents a possible route for the valorization of date palm residues
Flexural strength is considered a useful property in the structural, construction, automotive, and other market sectors to assess the viability of the material
Summary
The necessity of a significant change in environmental management and the minimization of the impact produced by our society has motivated the development of environmentally sustainable products. In the field of plastic composites, lignocellulosic fibers are viewed as an eco-friendly alternative to non-renewable and non-biodegradable synthetic reinforcements like carbon, aramid, or glass [1,2,3,4]. In addition to its sustainable character, natural fibers have low density, a relatively low cost, and provide reasonable mechanical enhancements [5]. Natural fibers exhibit good thermal and acoustic insulating characteristics, which could contribute to widening the range of applications of composite materials [6,7]. The manufacturing of glass fibers (GFs), the most representative amongst synthetic fibers, is relatively slow, challenging, and may damage the processing equipment. GFs have the disadvantage of being difficult to dispose of after use [8]
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