Effects of Natural Biological Treatments on the Properties of Banana Fiber Yarn for Textile

Biological treatments for banana fibers, though time-consuming, are energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. This research compared four types of natural biological treatments (ash-based, drilling mud, tamarind, and lemon) and four concentrations of NaOH (1%, 3%, 5%, 7%), assessing the fibers' physical properties post-treatment. Results showed that biological treatments reduced Acid Detergent Lignin (ADL) by 70.62% and increased cellulose content. In contrast, NaOH treatment, while removing 93.32% of lignin, decreased cellulose content. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed that all treatments removed lignin, cellulose, and hemicellulose, altering the fibers' surface topography. Based on these findings, natural alkali treatment was selected for spinning the fibers into yarn using the open-end spinning process, producing yarn sizes 5, 10, and 16. The Z-turn twisting technique was applied with a blend of cotton, banana fibers, and Eri silk in a 70:20:10 ratio. Analysis of the yarn’s physical properties showed a braking force of 10.37 N. The biological treatment approach was proven to be cost-effective and eco-friendly for various plant fibers. These findings can be applied to treat natural plant fibers at both community and textile industry levels.