Babu Saira S, Jiyas N, Sasidharan Indu, Kumar K Bindu, Thomas V P, Thomas Binoy T, Dan Mathew
Department of Botany, CATH Herbarium, Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India.
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Government Engineering College, Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.
Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 26;15(1):10455. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-95251-z.
The growing emphasis on sustainability has spurred interest in natural fibers as renewable and biodegradable alternatives to synthetic materials. This study explores the underutilized pseudostem fibers of Alpinia galanga (A. galanga), a perennial herb of the Zingiberaceae family, widely cultivated for its rhizomes in traditional medicine and culinary practices. Despite its economic and ethnobotanical significance, the pseudostems are often discarded as agricultural waste, contributing to environmental challenges. This research investigates the structural, chemical, and mechanical properties of A. galanga fibers, revealing their high cellulose and lignin content and lightweight nature making them viable for lightweight composite applications. To overcome inherent limitations such as high moisture content and limited mechanical performance, the fibers underwent alkaline and permanganate chemical treatments. Advanced characterization techniques, including Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR, Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and tensile strength testing, were employed to evaluate the effects of these treatments on thermal stability, crystallinity, and mechanical performance. Results demonstrated significant enhancements in tensile strength, thermal resistance, and structural integrity, underscoring the fibers' potential as eco-friendly reinforcement agents in composite materials. This pioneering study not only provides the first comprehensive characterization of A. galanga pseudostem fibers but also offers a sustainable solution to agricultural waste management, advancing the development of renewable, high-performance materials and promoting circular economy practices.
对可持续性的日益重视激发了人们对天然纤维的兴趣，将其作为合成材料的可再生和可生物降解替代品。本研究探索了高良姜未被充分利用的假茎纤维，高良姜是姜科多年生草本植物，因其根茎在传统医学和烹饪中被广泛种植。尽管其具有经济和民族植物学意义，但假茎常被作为农业废弃物丢弃，造成环境挑战。本研究调查了高良姜纤维的结构、化学和力学性能，发现其纤维素和木质素含量高且重量轻，使其适用于轻质复合材料应用。为克服高含水量和机械性能有限等固有局限性，对纤维进行了碱处理和高锰酸盐化学处理。采用了包括傅里叶变换红外光谱（FTIR）、热重分析（TGA）、X射线衍射（XRD）和拉伸强度测试在内的先进表征技术，以评估这些处理对热稳定性、结晶度和机械性能的影响。结果表明，拉伸强度、耐热性和结构完整性有显著提高，突出了这些纤维作为复合材料中环保增强剂的潜力。这项开创性研究不仅首次全面表征了高良姜假茎纤维，还为农业废弃物管理提供了可持续解决方案，推动了可再生高性能材料的发展，并促进了循环经济实践。
