ABSTRACT
Lignocellulosic fibrous materials account for second largest biopolymers after cellulosic material. The presence of lignocellulose in fibres gives distinct characteristics such as improved strength, stiffness and reinforcement of the material. It also gives distinct identity as a textile fibres i.e., bast fibre. However, there are more than 1000 derivatives of lignocellulosic materials of which only a few are used as textile fibres. In the present study Sansevieria roxburghiana fibres was extracted from the leaf and was used for further studies. The fibre has been mechanically extracted from leaves of the plant using water retting extraction method. The chemical composition of the extracted fibres was determined using TAPPI method and it consisted of cellulose 54±0.2%, hemicellulose 30±0.2%, lignin 12±0.2% and ash content 2±0.2%. Structural analysis and physical properties were also studied by FTIR, SEM, TGA, XRD, tensile and moisture regain measurements, which showed that the fibres have functional groups and the structural features essential for its dyeability, good mechanical properties and ease of processing.
