Processing, Structural Characterization, and Soil-Burial Degradation of Biodegradable Molded Sheets from Pineapple Leaf Fiber

Pineapple leaf fiber (PALF), an abundant lignocellulosic agricultural byproduct, represents a promising renewable resource for sustainable fiber-based materials. In this study, biodegradable molded sheets were fabricated from PALF via sequential alkaline (NaOH) treatment (5%, 90–100°C) and oxidative (H2O2) bleaching, followed by direct low-energy sheet formation. Structural and morphological characteristics were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). SEM observations revealed fibrillated and elongated fibers forming cohesive, overlapping network structures, while FTIR analysis confirmed partial removal of lignin and hemicellulose, evidenced by reduced peak intensity at ~1730 cm−1 and 1510–1600 cm−1. Soil-burial tests demonstrated progressive biodegradation over 60 days, with mean mass loss reaching 28.4%, and a statistically significant increase observed at day 28 (p < .05). The material shows preliminary potential for wound-dressing applications, supported by its structural characteristics and moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) value of 338.880 ± 1.969 g/m2 ·day. These findings establish a clear relationship between chemical treatment, fiber structure, and environmental degradation behavior. This study provides a simplified and potentially scalable approach; however, mechanical and biological properties were not evaluated and should be addressed in future work.