Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) Analysis of Chemically Treated Bagasse Fibre

Bagasse is a natural fibre obtained as a by-product of sugarcane milling process. As with other natural fibres it has the drawback of being hydrophilic; this research seeks to explore the use of chemical modification on the fibre surface as a possible remedy to this. The chemicals used were sodium hydroxide, acetic acid, acrylic acid, and potassium permanganate. The treatments were carried out for 3 hours at 70°C except for sodium hydroxide treatment which was done at room temperature using 2wt% concentration. The fibre analysis revealed that the potassium permanganate treatment was most effective in reducing the OH group visible at a peak around 3400 cm-1. Also the peaks showing lignin, pectin, and hemicelluose at 1250-1260 cm-1, 1600-1650 cm-1, and 1720-1750 cm-1 respectively were also removed which were all present in the untreated fibre. The SEM studies revealed that the roughness of the fibre was imparted by the effect of the various chemicals to varying degrees with potassium permanganate treated fibre becoming rougher as compared to the untreated fibre and other chemically modified fibres.