Chemical and morphological evaluation of the suitability of banana pseudo-stem waste for pulp and paper production

In this study, it was aimed to investigate the chemical and morphological suitability of using pseudo-stem which are formed in large amounts during the fruit harvesting of the banana plant (Musa sapientum) with a widespread agricultural area in the world, as raw material in the paper industry. The main chemical constituents of banana pseudo-stem holocellulose, α-cellulose and lignin were determined as %77.5, %51.0 and %12.7, respectively. Hot water solubility was 17.3%, cold water solubility 13.0%, alcohol and 1% NaOH solubility values were 9.2% and 33.3%, respectively. It has been determined that banana pseudo-stem waste fibers, which are similar to softwood fibers in terms of fiber length and hardwood fibers in terms of fiber width, have high slenderness and flexibility ratios with low Runkel ratio, rigidity coefficient and Mühlstep ratio. The results obtained from chemical and morphological analyzes indicated that banana pseudo stem waste is a suitable raw material for pulp and paper production.