Pineapple Leaf Fibres
Botanical Information
- The generic name of the pineapple plant is Ananas comosus.
- It is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the family of Bromeliaceace.
- Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is a waste product in the agricultural sector, abundantly cultivated in Malaysia and across Asia.
- However, with the advancement of modern technology and an increasing demand for sustainable alternatives, pineapple leaves are now being utilized to produce fibres. These fibres find applications in various sectors such as textiles, construction, automobiles.
- Pineapple is derived from the Spanish word “Pina”, which means cone shaped.
- The native Tupi word for the fruit was anana, meaning “excellent fruit;” this is the source for words like ananas, common in many languages.
- It is cultivated in tropical and sub-tropical regions as a commercial fruit crop.
Agroclimatic Conditions for Cultivation
- The plant is sturdy and robust with the height of 1-2m, characterized by tapering fleshy leaves that can reach up to 90 cm in length and approximately 6 cm in width.
- The optimal temperature range for pineapple cultivation is between 22oC to 32oC. Pineapple can be grown up to an elevation of 1100 meters above mean sea level if the region is free from frost.
- While the ideal rainfall is between 100-150 cm, pineapples can thrive in high rainfall zones and dry areas with supplemental protective irrigation during dry spells.
- For optimal growth, pineapple prefers soil with a depth of 45-60 cm, free from hard pan or stones. The preferred pH range for the soil is 5.0 pH – 6.0pH.
- The important pineapple-growing countries of the world are the Hawaiian Islands, Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Brazil, Ghana, Kenya, Mexico, Taiwan, South Africa, Australia, Puerto Rico, and India.
- In India, Assam, West Bengal, Karnataka, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Kerala, and Bihar are the major pineapple producing states.
- In the year 2017, the global pineapple cultivation covered an area of 1,098,705 hectares, potentially providing around 1,318 thousand tons of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF). This estimation is based on a calculation of 40 tons per hour of usable fresh leaves and a 3% PALF yield .
- According to 2013 analysis, Pineapple is India’s commercially significant fruit crop, occupying approximately 90,000 hectares of land. The annual production stands at 15.27 lakh tonnes, with a productivity rate of 15.3 tonnes per hectare. Thus, the estimated amount of PALF obtained should be 41,310 tons.
Extraction process
There are two steps to extract the fibres from the pineapple leaf.
Scrapping of leaves–
The decorticator machine is used for scrapping the pineapple leaf. It has three rollers namely,
Feed roller – through which the leaves are fed into the machine.
Leaf scrapping roller – it scratches and removes the pulpy part of the leaf along with the waxes.
Serrated roller – it crushes the leaves and makes several breaks as a passage for the retting microbes.
Retting –
Small bundles of pineapple leaves that have been scratched are placed in a water tank with a substrate-to-liquor ratio of 1:20 in which urea 0.5% or diammonium phosphate (DAP) is mixed for fast retting reactions to happen.
The fibres are regularly checked to ensure that fibres are loosened.
After retting, fibres are separated mechanically, by washing in fresh water and then dried in air by hanging.
Table 1. Physical & mechanical properties and chemical composition of areca nut fibres
Physical & Mechanical Properties
Length (mm)
10-90
Fineness (tex)
2.5-5.5
Tenacity (cN/tex)
30-40
Elongation (%)
2.4-3.4
Initial modulus (cN/tex)
570-700
Chemical Composition
Cellulose
55-68%
Hemicellulose
15-20%
Pectin
2-4%
Lignin
8-12%
Fat and Wax
4-7%
4-7%
2-3%
Water soluble material
1-3%
Pineapple varieties
Smooth Cayenne
Giant Kew, Charlotte Rothschild
India
Hilo
Hawaii
Cayenne Lisse
Martinique, Ivory Coast
Sarawak, Samarahan, Nanas Durian, Nanas Paun
Malaysia
Perolera, Bumanguesa, Santa Maria
Venezuela, Colombia
St. Michael
Azores
Kona Sugarloaf
Caribbean, Florida, Hawaii, Central and South America
Baron Rothschild
Guinea
Criolla
Peru
Monte Lirio
Mexico, Costa Rica
Esmeralda
Mexico, Florida
Fu Mu, Cherimoya, Perfume, Sugarcane, Sugar honey, Golden diamond, Milk
Taiwan
Cayenne Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe
Queen cultivar
Mauritius (Queen Malacca)
Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka
Del Monte Gold (MD 2), Hawaiian Gold
Hawaii, Costa Rica, Ghana, Cuba, France
Nanas Moris, Sarikei
Malaysia
McGregor
South Africa, Queensland
James Queen
South Queen
Ripley Queen
Florida, Queensland
Kallara local
India
Natal Queen
South Africa, El Salvador
Natal Queen
Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela
Spanish
Hybrid 36
Malaysia
Josephine
Malaysia
Maspine
Malaysia
Cabezona, Cumanesa, Castilla
Venezuela, West Indies, Mexico, Puerto Rico, El Salvador
Valera, Morada
Colombia, Venezuela
Pineapple Panare
Venezuela
Abacaxi
Sugarloaf, Black Jamaica, Montufar
Central and South America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Philippines
Chart 1: Varieties of pineapple
Features
- Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is white in colour, smooth, and glossy as silk.
- It is a medium-length fibre with high tensile strength.
- It has a softer surface than other natural fibres and absorbs and maintains a good colour.
- It has good abrasion resistance.
- As a byproduct of pineapple fruit, it is economic. As a natural fibre, it is ecofriendly, and recyclable and it can act as a good substitute of cotton fibre .
- Pineapple leaf fibre (PALF) is a crucial natural fibre with high specific strength, rigidity, and flexural and torsional rigidity comparable to jute fibres.
- The primary limitation of Pineapple Leaf Fiber (PALF) is its hydrophilic nature that limits strong bonds with hydrophobic matrices, especially at elevated temperatures.
Typical uses
- Fibers are extracted from fresh pineapple leaves to produce ropes, twines, composites, and clothing. The pineapple plant serves as a significant source of fibre in countries such as the Philippines, Taiwan, and India. PALF is generally used in making threads for textile fabrics from several decades.
- The primary end uses of pineapple fibre include wedding dresses, casual wear, and formal dresses. Pineapple leaf fibre is also employed in the production of table linens, bags, mats, and various other clothing items. Additionally, products such as handbags, coasters, and various interior design items can be crafted from Pineapple Leaf Fiber.
- Currently, Pineapple Leaf Fiber finds applications in various sectors such as textiles, sports items, baggage, automobiles, cabinets, and mats.
- Surface-modified PALF is also introduced for manufacturing machinery parts, including belt cords, conveyor belt cords, transmission cloth, airbag tying cords, and certain cloths designed for industrial uses .
- The physical and mechanical properties of pineapple fibre, including density, tensile strength, and elongation %, make it well-suited for applications in textiles, building and construction materials, automotive components, and furniture.
- It can be used in various applications as acoustics for sound absorption, and thermal insulation.
