Extraction and characterization of hemicellulose and lignin contents of areca fiber

Areca fruit husk fibers are generally consisting of hemicellulose, lignin, wax and some of the inorganic components. Present study concentrates on the extraction and characterization of hemicellulose and lignin from these areca fruit husk fibers which shall be used in composite preparation. In order to extract hemicellulose and lignin, different molar concentrations (such as 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Molar concentrations) of alkali were used. From the present work it is found that the graded ethanol with 4 volumes has depicted the improved hemicellulose yield as compared to hemicellulose precipitate and 0.2 volume alkali-soluble hemicellulose. And highest hemicellulose precipitate yield was found at temperatures of 40 °C and alkali concentrations of 3 M. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analyses demonstrate hemicellulose precipitates and alkali-soluble hemicellulose (0.2 volumes and 4 volumes), noted in the range of 450–4000 cm, as the percentage transmittance versus wavenumber graph is plotted. Finally, the thermogravimetric analysis performed to study the effect of alkali treatment on thermal stability of empty areca fruit bunches. And it is concluded that alkali treatment is the best suited method in the process of hemicellulose and lignin extraction from the areca fruit husk fibers. After this, these treated fibers can be used in the different composite preparation processes.