Effect of acid hydrolysis treated pineapple fiber in plasticized polylactic acid composite

Pineapple leaf is a residue mainly from pineapple food industry which is causing environmental problems by its lack of proper waste disposal method. Therefore, it can be utilized as filler for the reinforcement of PLA which is brittle in nature. Treated fiber from pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) was derived through acid hydrolysis method. The morphological properties and chemical structure of treated PALF were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Plasticized PLA/treated PALF was prepared by solvent casting method at 1wt%, 3wt%, 5wt% and 7wt% loading rates of acid hydrolysis treated PALF. Mechanical properties of composite were characterized through tensile test. FTIR analysis shows significant changes in the chemical properties of the raw PALF and treated PALF. SEM image reveals that acid hydrolysis treated PALF displays a rod like structure and smooth surface as the effect of hemicellulose removal. The findings of this research is expected to decrease the amount of waste accumulated in the environment due to non-degradable materials and the pineapple industry residues