PHYSICO, CHEMICAL AND THERMAL PROPERTIES OF PINEAPPLE FIBERS (ANANAS COMOSUS) LEAVES, STEMS AND ROOTS FROM THE CENTRE REGION OF CAMEROON FOR THE REINFORCEMENT OF ROOFING SHINGLES (TILES)

Abstract

Pineapple waste represents an average of 75% of the dry mass of giant grass, and because of its composition of plant fibers and others components, reveals a potential to exploit. Destroyed and abandoned in nature as agricultural wastes, it is not valued. This motivated us to researchon pineapple wastes. The objective of this research work was to extract and characterize Pineapple waste (leaves, stems ad roots), for the reinforcement of roofing shingles. To achieve this objective, we have studied the extraction techniques of plant fibers and selected four main processes that are suitable for the extraction of pineapple fibers; namely scraping, beaten, retting and chemical extraction using caustic soda. Then, we presented the state of the art on the Physico-Chemical extraction using caustic soda. Furthermore, we presented the physical characterization of plant fibers such as density, the section, the water content and diameter. With regard to chemical characterization. The chemical test we had hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash, pectin and extractive content. The physical characterisation allowed us to note that the diameter of pineapple fibers ranges from 0.02 to 0.09mm. With a maximum density of 1.01g/cm3 and a water absorption of 8.11%.