Extraction And Physiochemical Characterization Of Fibre From An Agro-Residue: Curcuma Longa Root For Eco-Textile Development

Abstract

Globally, the textile industry is experiencing demand for manufacturing eco-friendly products that meet customers' requirements and concerns about environmental conditions. The demand for sustainable fibres results in the development of novel fibres from plants and their residuals to reduce the usage of usual natural fibres and harmful synthetic fibres, and to incorporate them for various technical textile applications. Based on this concept, an agro-residue, Curcuma Longa root fibres, was selected for this study and was collected from local fields of Erode. Fibres were sorted and subjected to the extraction process using the water retting method. The extracted fibres were then evaluated to assess their properties, including fibre identification, structural features, and elemental composition, which were examined through FESEM and EDX analyses. The presence of specific chemical groups and their respective compositions were identified using FTIR spectroscopy and chemical composition testing. XRD analysis revealed a distinct peak at 22ɵ position, indicating a crystallinity index of 51.1%. Thermal stability and melting capacity were evaluated via TGA and DTA, with the fibres displaying a residual mass of 30.00% and a melting point of 428.8⁰C respectively. This study evaluates the structural, thermal, mechanical and biocompatibility to assess its potential suitability for sustainable technical textile use.