A Review: Bioprospecting Natural Fibers from Invasive Alien Plant Species (IAPs) for Application in Biocomposites

By : Mithu Biswas

Page No: 401-418

Abstract
Natural Fiber Composites or biocomposites have gained a lot of significance because of their uniqueness in properties compared to synthetic fiber composites. The use of natural fibers of commercial importance such as cotton, hemp, sisal, jute, flax, kenaf, etc. makes biocomposite a high-end product. Bioprospecting Invasive Alien Plant species (IAPs) as an alternative source of natural fiber, could reduce the pressure on native resources and curtail water, pesticide and fertilizer application rates. IAPs are potential sources of natural fiber with high crystallinity index, making them suitable for reinforcing composite materials. The use of plant fibers in composites requires critical analysis of physico-chemical properties of the fiber, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and wax content, fiber microstructure, aspect ratio, density, Microfibrillar Angle (MFA), Crystallinity Index (XRD Analysis), Thermal Stability (TGA Analysis), Surface Chemistry (FTIR Spectroscopy), Surface Morphology (SEM Analysis) and Mechanical Strength (Tensile strength and Modulus of elasticity). Non-wood plant fibers of Ageratina adenophora, Girardinia heterophylla, Mikania micrantha and Pennisetum purpureum have high crystallinity index (68.98 per cent to 79.1 per cent). Ageratina adenophora, Cryptostegia grandiflora, Eichhornia crassipes and Girardinia heterophylla have high cellulose (> 65 per cent) with low lignin content (<12.5%), which minimises the concentration and duration of chemical pretreatment. This review paper analyses the physico-chemical properties of natural fibers of 20 IAPs and the feasibility of their application in biocomposite using different polymer matrices.

Author
Mithu Biswas: Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, Asutosh College, (Affiliated to University of Calcutta), West Bengal, India.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/JPSR.2025.41.03.5