Design and Development of Banana Fiber Decorticator with Wringer
Pedrito M. Tenerife Jr.1, Arvin R. De La Cruz2, Alexis Christellene M. Arce3, Ma. Arianne N. Pabularcon4, Kathleen Meriel D. Ortega5, Ralph Lorenz R. Rafallo6
1Pedrito M. Tenerife Jr., Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
2Arvin R. De La Cruz, Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
3Alexis Christellene M. Arce, Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
4Ma. Arianne N. Pabularcon, Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
5Kathleen Meriel D. Ortega, Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
6Ralph Lorenz R. Rafallo, Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
Manuscript received on 02 June 2019 | Revised Manuscript received on 27 June 2019 | Manuscript Published on 04 July 2019 | PP: 82-84 | Volume-8 Issue-1S4 June 2019 | Retrieval Number: A10160681S419/2019©BEIESP
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© The Authors. Blue Eyes Intelligence Engineering and Sciences Publication (BEIESP). This is an open access article under the CC-BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)
Abstract: The demand for fiber as raw materials to make various products is increasing. It can be extracted from the seed, leaves, fruits and stem of a plant. Banana is one of the leading fruits grown in the Philippines. It provides food and a source of industrial raw materials. Aside from the fruit, banana blossom and its trunk pith that can be eaten, natural fiber can be extracted in the trunk (pseudo-stem) that is usually thrown as waste after the harvest season. The study aims to develop a machine that can extract fiber in a pseudo-stem which can be used in handicrafts, ropes, clothing and other products. A prototype was designed, developed and was tested for banana trunk fiber extraction. During the extraction process, the stem which is 45.72 cm in length and 1 cm thickness is fed manually in the prototype machine. Fiber is extracted from the pseudostem using a decortication process where a roller with scratched surface is compressed into a stationary bar that will crushed and scraped the trunk. During the decortication process the banana stem is also undergoing the wringing process wherein the fiber loses its water content. The extracted fiber is already dried and can be used in making domestic products. However, to have a good quality fiber, after the process, it should be washed and dried. Results indicated that the recovery rate of the banana fiber has increase by 2-3% in an average of 35.5 cm pseudo-stem. The device has a great potential and should be used for the growing fiber industry in the country.
Keywords: Bast Fiber, Decortication Process, Pseudo Stem, Wringing Process.
Scope of the Article: Machine Design