Utilization Of Plantain Stem Fibre For Making Wrapping Materials

Wood has historically been a primary raw material for pulp, paper, and fiber-based products. However, the escalating demand for wood in construction, furniture, fuel, charcoal, and other industries, coupled with concerns about deforestation and wood scarcity in many regions, has spurred interest in exploring non-wood alternatives for paper production. This study aims to investigate plantain stem fiber as a viable substitute for traditional paper through the kraft process. Plantain stem fibers were collected, cut into smaller pieces, and treated with varying concentrations of NaOH + H2O (0.5M, 1.0M, 1.5M, 2.0M) at 60°C for one hour. Once the fibers turned brown, they were blended into pulp, poured into molds, and dried to produce plantain fiber paper. The results revealed that adjusting the NaOH concentration yielded varying dry paper masses (15.4g, 15.2g, 15.0g, 14.4g) and pulp yields (15.6g, 15.0g, 14.8g, 14.6g) respectively. This research demonstrates the potential of plantain stem fiber as a sustainable alternative source for paper production.