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Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material

Received: 20 July 2020    Accepted: 29 July 2020    Published: 20 August 2020
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Abstract

Polyethylene (PE)-based plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and tend to persistently disturb and destroy the environment. The novel approach in this research is incorporation of alkali-modified kenaf fiber into the used PE material aiming at improving its biodegradability and hydrolytic degradation. The alkaline modification of the kenaf fiber was achieved using 5wt. % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as revealed by chemical composition analysis and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy of the alkali-treated fiber. Melt-blending approach was employed to fabricate composites using both treated and un-treated kenaf fibers together with the used low density PE, in the form of table water sachets, at various fiber-to-PE loading formulations. Characterizations of these composites were conducted for their biodegradability using Sandy soil. Additional characterizations conducted included hydrolytic degradation and thermogravimetric analysis respectively. In the results obtained for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation, the alkali treated kenaf fiber-PE composites revealed a more promising performance than its corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The higher the kenaf fiber the higher the biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation respectively. These composites also showed higher hydrolytic degradation as well as higher thermal stability in comparison to their corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The findings on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that alkali-modified kenaf fiber incorporated PE composites showed a more statistically significant results for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation particularly between 60 to 90 days retention periods.

Published in American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11
Page(s) 1-9
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Polyethylene, Kenaf Fiber, Biodegradation, Hydrolytic Degradation

References
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    Abubakar Umar Birnin-Yauri, Aliyu Muhammad, Ibrahim Garba Wawata, Hannatu Abubakar Sani, Mustapha Maccido, et al. (2020). Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material. American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology, 6(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11

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    ACS Style

    Abubakar Umar Birnin-Yauri; Aliyu Muhammad; Ibrahim Garba Wawata; Hannatu Abubakar Sani; Mustapha Maccido, et al. Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material. Am. J. Polym. Sci. Technol. 2020, 6(1), 1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11

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    AMA Style

    Abubakar Umar Birnin-Yauri, Aliyu Muhammad, Ibrahim Garba Wawata, Hannatu Abubakar Sani, Mustapha Maccido, et al. Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material. Am J Polym Sci Technol. 2020;6(1):1-9. doi: 10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11,
      author = {Abubakar Umar Birnin-Yauri and Aliyu Muhammad and Ibrahim Garba Wawata and Hannatu Abubakar Sani and Mustapha Maccido and Aminu Umar and Sayudi Haruna Yahaya and Ahmad Umar},
      title = {Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material},
      journal = {American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {1-9},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajpst.20200601.11},
      abstract = {Polyethylene (PE)-based plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and tend to persistently disturb and destroy the environment. The novel approach in this research is incorporation of alkali-modified kenaf fiber into the used PE material aiming at improving its biodegradability and hydrolytic degradation. The alkaline modification of the kenaf fiber was achieved using 5wt. % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as revealed by chemical composition analysis and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy of the alkali-treated fiber. Melt-blending approach was employed to fabricate composites using both treated and un-treated kenaf fibers together with the used low density PE, in the form of table water sachets, at various fiber-to-PE loading formulations. Characterizations of these composites were conducted for their biodegradability using Sandy soil. Additional characterizations conducted included hydrolytic degradation and thermogravimetric analysis respectively. In the results obtained for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation, the alkali treated kenaf fiber-PE composites revealed a more promising performance than its corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The higher the kenaf fiber the higher the biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation respectively. These composites also showed higher hydrolytic degradation as well as higher thermal stability in comparison to their corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The findings on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that alkali-modified kenaf fiber incorporated PE composites showed a more statistically significant results for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation particularly between 60 to 90 days retention periods.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effect of Alkali-modified Kenaf Fiber Incorporation on the Biodegradability and Hydrolytic Degradability of Used Polyethylene Material
    AU  - Abubakar Umar Birnin-Yauri
    AU  - Aliyu Muhammad
    AU  - Ibrahim Garba Wawata
    AU  - Hannatu Abubakar Sani
    AU  - Mustapha Maccido
    AU  - Aminu Umar
    AU  - Sayudi Haruna Yahaya
    AU  - Ahmad Umar
    Y1  - 2020/08/20
    PY  - 2020
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11
    T2  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    JF  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    JO  - American Journal of Polymer Science and Technology
    SP  - 1
    EP  - 9
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-5986
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajpst.20200601.11
    AB  - Polyethylene (PE)-based plastic wastes are non-biodegradable and tend to persistently disturb and destroy the environment. The novel approach in this research is incorporation of alkali-modified kenaf fiber into the used PE material aiming at improving its biodegradability and hydrolytic degradation. The alkaline modification of the kenaf fiber was achieved using 5wt. % sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution as revealed by chemical composition analysis and Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy of the alkali-treated fiber. Melt-blending approach was employed to fabricate composites using both treated and un-treated kenaf fibers together with the used low density PE, in the form of table water sachets, at various fiber-to-PE loading formulations. Characterizations of these composites were conducted for their biodegradability using Sandy soil. Additional characterizations conducted included hydrolytic degradation and thermogravimetric analysis respectively. In the results obtained for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation, the alkali treated kenaf fiber-PE composites revealed a more promising performance than its corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The higher the kenaf fiber the higher the biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation respectively. These composites also showed higher hydrolytic degradation as well as higher thermal stability in comparison to their corresponding un-treated kenaf fiber-PE composites. The findings on Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) revealed that alkali-modified kenaf fiber incorporated PE composites showed a more statistically significant results for biodegradation and hydrolytic degradation particularly between 60 to 90 days retention periods.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

  • Department of Pure and Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Physical Sciences, Kebbi State University of Science and Technology, Aleiro, Nigeria

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