Corn Husk Fiber Research Articles

Extraction of natural cellulosic fibers from cornhusk and its physico-chemical properties

A natural long staple ligno-cellulosic fibers have been extracted from the cornhusks using an alkali treatment. Physico-chemical properties such as chemical composition, length, fineness, crystallinity, surface properties, etc. measured by standard methods are reported in this paper. The physico-chemical and morphological properties of the extracted cornhusk fibers are discussed in detail and compared with other cellulosic like cotton and ligno-cellulosic fibers such as jute. Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the morphological and cross-sectional view and energy dispersive X-ray and FTIR were used for the identification and quantification of elements, groups present in the cornhusk and other cellulosic and lignocellulosic fibers. In addition, fibers are characterized by thermo-gravimetric analysis. Results showed that morphological and physico-chemical behavior is more or less similar to other multicellular ligno-cellulosic fibers like jute.

Green Composites Using Lignocellulosic Waste and Cellulosic Fibers from Corn Husks

This study explores the feasibility of using lignocellulosic waste and cellulosic fibers from corn husks in the production of green composites, with orthophthalic unsaturated polyester (ortho-UP) resin as a matrix. Lignocellulose was extracted from corn husk fibers by alkali treatment using 1M NaOH, and the dried lignocellulose extract was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy. Composites containing varying weight fractions of lignocellulose, treated fibers and ortho-UP were fabricated, and the tensile and flexural strengths and moduli were measured. Based on the results, it was observed that the composite containing 15wt% fiber possesses the highest tensile modulus, while the one with 20wt% lignocellulose showed the highest flexural modulus. The composites were also subjected to scanning electron microscopy to examine the fracture surfaces of the composites. Furthermore, the water sorption behavior of the composites was also studied, and it was observed that all the composites obey Fickian diffusion.

Cellulosic fibers with high aspect ratio from cornhusks via controlled swelling and alkaline penetration

Cellulosic fibers with high aspect ratio have been firstly obtained from cornhusks via controlled swelling in organic solvent and simultaneous tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAOH) post treatment within restricted depth. Cornhusks, with around 42% cellulose content, are a copious and inexpensive source for natural fibers. However, cornhusk fibers at 20tex obtained via small-molecule alkaline extraction were too coarse for textile applications. Continuous NaOH treatment would result in fine fibers but with length of about 0.5–1.5mm, too short for textile use. In this research, post treatment using TMAOH and under controlled swelling significantly reduced fineness of cornhusk fibers from 21.3±2.88 to 5.72±0.21tex. Fiber length was reduced from 105.47±10.03 to47.2±27.4mm. The cornhusk fibers had more oriented microstructures and cellulose content increased to 84.47%. Besides, cornhusk fibers had similar tenacity, longer elongation, and lower modulus compared to cotton and linen, which endowed them with durability and flexibility.

Evaluation of corn husk fibers reinforced recycled low density polyethylene composites

Responding to the community demand for disposal of environmental problematic agricultural and polymer waste, composite sheets using recycled low-density polyethylene (R-LDPE) and corn husk fibers were prepared by melt compounding and compression molding. These composites were prepared in different concentrations (5, 10, 15, and 20%) of powder corn husk with 125 μ particle size based on R-LDPE matrix. Beside the importance of property improvement, an additional incentive was responding to the social demand for the disposal of environmental problematic agricultural waste. The influence of loading rate on R-LDPE crystallization behavior, mechanical, and swilling properties were investigated. Increasing in fiber loading led to increased moduli and tensile strength while hardness was decreased. X-ray diffraction (XRD) examinations indicated that introducing fiber to R-LDPE matrix did not change characteristic peak position. The thermal stability of the prepared composites was evaluated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) which displayed that the R-LDPE had significantly larger peak heat flow during cooling run than the blank R-LDPE, indicating higher crystallization rates for R-LDPE. The prepared composites materials can be used in packaging applications.

Mechanical properties of soy protein based “green” composites reinforced with surface modified cornhusk fiber

In this study, fibers were extracted from cornhusk by using alkali solution. Scanning electron microscopic observations on the morphological structure of cornhusk fiber showed that wax and other noncellulosic substances were removed after alkali treatment. The fibers were further surface modified with silane and used for the reinforcement of bioplastic made from defatted soy flour, soy protein, and polylactic acid (PLA). Mechanical properties including tensile strength, tensile modulus, flexural strength, flexural modulus, impact strength, and water absorption of PLA–soy protein based biocomposites containing surface modified cornhusk fiber were superior to the biocomposite reinforced with untreated fibers. Significant improvement of all mechanical properties were observed with the use of silane treated cornhusk fiber at 5wt% fiber loading. The enhancement in mechanical properties of the composites was corresponding to better interfacial adhesion between the PLA–soy protein matrix and cornhusk fibers.

Fabrication and Properties of Corn Husk Fiber / Polylactic Acid Fiberboard

In this study corn husk used as raw material, and achieved corn husk fiber through degumming properly. Then degradable fiberboard can be obtained with husk fiber and polylactic acid particles through blending and hot pressing. Taking mass fraction and length of corn husk fiber, hot-pressing time and temperature as factors, and taking tensile, bending and impact strength as index, through the L9 (34) orthogonal testing and range analyzing and achieved the optimal process parameters is: corn husk fiber mass fraction is 50%, corn husk fiber length is 10 mm, hot pressing time is 6 min, hot pressing temperature is 180 °C. Under the optimal process condition, a optimal fiberboard is obtained, whose tensile strength is 69.32 MPa, bending strength is 90.26 MPa, impact strength is 18.5 KJ/m2. The conclusion of this paper provides the theoretical guidance for the reuse technology of corn husk fiber.

Effects of enzymatic treatments on the mechanical properties of corn husk fibers

Corn husk fibers were extracted by water retting, alkalization, and enzymatic processes at different concentration and duration levels. The effects of extraction process parameters on the mechanical and thermal properties and chemical characteristics of corn husk fibers were investigated. Chemical structures of the fibers were studied by IR measurements. The finest and the stiffest fibers were produced by water retting followed by an enzymatic treatment. The highest breaking strength and breaking tenacity were obtained by water-retted fibers. While resulting in loss of breaking tenacity and elongation in water-retted fibers, enzymatic treatment resulted in increase in initial moduli and breaking tenacity of alkalized fibers. No significant effect of enzymatic treatment duration was obtained on the mechanical properties of corn husk fibers. Alkalized fibers gave higher elongation and lower stiffness compared to water-retted ones. The IR spectra showed higher amount of lignin and hemicellulose in water-retted fibers compared to alkalized and enzyme-treated ones. Enzymatic treatment and alkalization enhanced the thermal durability of the fibers. The ranges for properties of the produced corn husk fibers can be summarized as a linear density 17.0–25.6 tex, initial modulus 150.9–401.8 cN/tex, breaking tenacity 6.8–21.7 cN/tex, and elongation 9.6–18.2%.

The effects of the addition of corn husk fibre, kaolin and beeswax on cross-linked corn starch foam

Significant efforts have recently been made to improve the physical properties of starch foams formed using baking processes. For example, cross-linking starch with 0.126g/kg glyoxal considerably reduces the baking time, density and water absorption of starch foams. In this study, we attempted to further develop the physical properties of glyoxal cross-linked starch foam by adding corn husk fibre, kaolin, beeswax and combinations of these products. We also studied the effects of these components on the microstructure and physicochemical and mechanical properties of trays. Starch-based trays in which additives were used showed improved water resistance. The water absorption capacities of the trays were 13%, 14% and 9% when combinations of kaolin/beeswax, fibre/beeswax and fibre/kaolin/beeswax were added, respectively.We found that baked foams formulated with only cross-linked starch had higher tensile and flexural strength than composite foams of either cross-linked starch/kaolin or cross-linked starch/beeswax. However, using combinations of additives further increased the tensile and flexural strength of baked foams, with the exception of cross-linked starch/beeswax/kaolin composite foams. Furthermore, all mechanical properties of the trays were superior to those produced using only cross-linked starch.

Chemically Extracted Cornhusk Fibers as Reinforcement in Light‐Weight Poly(propylene) Composites

AbstractFlexural, impact resistance, tensile, and sound absorption properties of composites from cornhusk fiber (CHF) and PP have been investigated. The effect of holding temperature, CHF length, CHF concentration, and enzyme treatment of CHF on mechanical properties and the effect of the latter two on sound absorption have been studied. Compared with jute/PP composites, CHF/PP composites have similar impact resistance, 33% higher flexural strength, 71% lower flexural modulus, 43% higher tensile strength, 54% lower tensile modulus, and slightly higher noise reduction coefficient. Enzyme treatment of CHF results in increased mechanical and sound absorption properties.magnified image

Structure and Properties of Natural Cellulose Fibers Obtained from Sorghum Leaves and Stems

For the first time, sorghum leaves and stems have been used to produce natural cellulose fibers with properties suitable for composite, textile, and other high-value fibrous applications. The leaf and stems fibers produced are multicellular and have similar cellulose contents. The breaking tenacity and elongation of the fibers are similar to that of natural cellulose fibers such as kenaf and cornstalk fibers. However, the sorghum fibers have a modulus of about 113 g/denier (15 GPa) similar to the modulus of cornstalk fibers but higher than that of cotton and cornhusk fibers. At least 7 million tons of natural cellulose fibers can be produced by using the sorghum stems and leaves available as byproducts every year. Using the sorghum byproducts as a source for cellulose fibers will help to add value to the sorghum crops and also make the fiber industry more sustainable.

Effect of Lignin on the Heat and Light Resistance of Lignocellulosic Fibers

AbstractThe existence of lignin in lignocellulosic fibers increases the loss in breaking tenacity and elongation of fibers when they are exposed to heat and light. Delignification by sulfonation helps to remove some of the lignin from the fibers without affecting the breaking tenacity. The delignified fibers have higher resistance to heat and light exposure compared to the raw fibers. The effect of lignin on the heat and light resistance of kenaf and cornhusk fibers with three different lignin contents was studied in comparison to cotton at various periods of heat and light exposure. The changes in the breaking tenacity, breaking elongation and yellowness of the samples were studied.magnified image

Bleaching of Kenaf and Cornhusk Fibers

Kenaf and cornhusk fibers have been bleached to CIE whiteness indexes of 66 and 74, respectively, without using any optical brighteners. A delignification process prior to bleaching has been used to partially remove the lignin from the fibers without affecting other fiber properties. Bleaching variables such as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide, time, temperature, and pH have been optimized for both the kenaf and cornhusk fibers. The effects of various bleaching parameters on the whiteness index and the breaking tenacity of the fibers have been reported. The whiteness of kenaf fibers reported here is high compared to the whiteness achieved by other bleaching processes developed earlier.

Intestinal absorption of zinc is promoted by low-level intake but inhibited by high-level intake of corn husk fiber in rats

We examined the effects of feeding several types of insoluble dietary fiber (100 g/kg diet), including cellulose (control), wheat bran (demineralized), sugar-beet fiber and corn husk fiber, on zinc absorption in rats. Zinc absorption was higher after intake of a zinc-deficient diet (0.229 mmol/kg diet) containing corn husk fiber than that after intake of a cellulose-containing diet for 3 wk. Ingestion of wheat bran or sugar-beet fiber did not influence zinc absorption. We compared the effects of cellulose and demineralized- and washed-corn husk fiber at graded levels in the diets (1, 2 and 3 parts to 10 basal diet). Zinc absorption in rats fed the diet with the lowest level of corn fiber was higher than that in rats fed a diet with the same level of cellulose or a fiber-free diet (control). In rats fed the diets with higher levels of corn fiber, the zinc absorption was lower than that in rats fed either the diet with the lowest level of cellulose or the fiber-free diet in the period day 9–12, however, reduced absorption that occurred upon intake of the high-fiber diet recovered in the period day 18–21. Cecal fermentation and the bulking action of corn husk fiber may not be responsible for the zinc absorption-promoting effect of the dietary fiber. In conclusion, corn husk fiber is effective in increasing zinc absorption when ingested at low levels, but absorption is inhibited upon intake at higher levels in rats.