Improving fibrillation and structural integrity of coconut frond fibers with alkali and steam processing

The effects of alkali treatment steaming on the fibrillation of coconut frond stem fibers has been successfully evaluated. The applied procedures include physical and chemical treatments to reduce the fiber size from the micrometer to the nanometer scale. The fibers underwent alkali treatment using NaOH solutions at varying concentrations, followed by steaming to facilitate fiber separation. The results indicate that a 2 NaOH solution with a 4-hour immersion produced the highest tensile strength, reaching 276 MPa, compared to untreated fibers, which exhibited a tensile strength of 155 MPa. FTIR and SEM analyses revealed the effectiveness of these treatments in breaking lignin and hemicellulose bonds and increasing fiber crystallinity. The combination of chemical and physical treatments significantly enhances the mechanical properties and microstructure of coconut frond fibers, presenting new opportunities for sustainable material applications.