SARAH E.

ECHAVIA , 2022
Research Proponent Date Submitted
Concept Paper

Proposed Title of Research Interest

Recycling of Banana Cardava pseudostem waste for economical production of Fiber board as
Furniture and construction Material

Area of Study (Field of Specialization)

Environmental Engineering

The Problem and its Background of the Study

In the Philippines, a massive volume of banana stem was discarded as waste every year, after
harvesting. According to DOST, this massive volume of agricultural waste from the banana industry
could produce million tons of banana fiber if properly utilized. The Philippines is one of the top
exporters of bananas. Banana is the one of leading fruits grown in Philippines. It provides food and
a source of industrial raw materials. Asides from fruits, banana blossom and its trunk pith that can
be eaten natural fiber can be extracted in trunk (pseudo stem) that is usually thrown as waste after
harvest season.
Banana stems are usually disregarded and left to rot as only 10% of the pseudo stem is used
to create products and their left-over stems produce methane gas that is one of the greenhouse
gasses. The ratio of banana waste and product is 2:1. The lignocellulosic biomass is either left on
the ground or taken to open dumps. In the first case, the process leads to maintain the soil moisture
and provide organic matter, but it is a potential risk of transmission of disease and, in both cases, the
lignocellulosic biomass produces greenhouse gases as they decompose. (UPM researchers 2016)

Objectives of the Study

The general objective of this study was to develop a furniture and construction material made from
banana stem in an affordable price with high quality.
Specifically, this study aims to:
• Identify the materials that will be used efficiently;
• Determine the most appropriate and practical fiber board thickness.
• Test and evaluate the properties of banana fiber board in terms of:
1. Nail head pull through test
2. Screw holding test
3. Density test
4. Flexural strength test
5. Swelling test
Research Locale and Respondents

Literature Review

Banana fiber

In this research the banana fiber was obtaining from the pseudo stem of the banana plant.
Due to its organic and lignocellulosic nature, banana fibers are complex in structure. As a
lignocellulosic fiber, banana fiber consists of core components such as cellulose, hemicellulose, and
lignin. The hollow fibrils, consists of cellulose, which are held together by a lignin and
hemicellulose matrix. The cellulose content is directly proportional to the mechanical strength of
the fiber, while the lignin and hemicelluloses serve to resist natural decay, including thermal
degradation. Banana fibers have a relatively low cellulose and high lignin composition compared to
other common natural fiber reinforcement, such as jute, which boasts cellulose of 71-74% but only
12% lignin, and sisal, which is composed of 60-75% cellulose and only 8% lignin. Although the
lack of cellulosic content has a negative impact on mechanical strength, the high lignin
concentration contributes to a strong adhesion between fibers

Local Related Literature

Dr. Mary Ann Tavanlar, et. al. (2011) from the University of the Philippines Institute of
Molecular Biology and Biotechnology conducted a study on the banana plant. The researchers
stated that the peduncle, the part of the palm-like plant that holds the banana bunches is capable of
producing composite fiber boards to be used in construction. The researchers also found that the
plant appendage is rich in fiber that can be used in the production of pulp and paper. According to
Dr. Tavanlar, resin-and cement-bonded banana peduncle fiber boards are commercially viable. The
results of the study showed that these fiber boards were durable, elastic and absorbed water well.
They could be put to good use as wall and ceiling panels for buildings. In addition to this, the
boards required little initial investment in manufacturing and were cheaper than other similar
construction materials.

Natural Fiber-Reinforced Composites

According to Joshua D. Weed, the increasing social pressure for biodegradable, sustainable,
and environmentally-friendly products, coupled with their good processing ability from their low
density, nonabrasive, flexible, and cost-effective properties, has launched the use of natural fibers in
FRP composites. In fact, natural fiber-reinforced composites have already found their way into
marketable products, such as in the automobile industry. For instance, interior panels and seat
cushions originally made of glass mat FRP composites are now being made with natural fiber FRP
composites, due to its high degree of flexibility, low density, and non-abrasive surface.
 Conceptual Framework

Fiber board for Furniture and

Banana Cardava pseudostem
construction Material

Fig 1. show conceptual Framework Showing the Variables of the Study

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