Coconut husk fibers

Rosa, M., Medeiros, E., Malmonge, J., Gregorski, K., Wood, D., and Mattoso, L. (2010). Cellulose nanowhiskers from coconut husk fibers Effect of preparation conditions on their thermal and morphological behavior, Qarboh Qf f]x., 81,83-92. 

Figure 4.6 is courtesy of the Electron Microscopy Society of Malaysia (EMSM), photo by Jefri Samin, http //ibs.upm.edu.my/ aini/micrograph.htm.Theimage was magn if ied 10OOX and is of activated carbon from coconut husk fiber. 

Cellulose nanowhiskers (CNWs) have been obtained from a variety of matrices such as cotton [63], sisal [64], and coconut husk fibers [65]. Other alternative sources of cellulose nanofibrils includes naturally colored cotton, curaua (Ananas erecti-Jblius), and sugarcane bagasse have been successfully used to prepare nanowhiskers [66-69]. 

Ganji, V., and Kies, C. V. (1994). Psyllium husk fiber supplementation to soybean and coconut oil diets of humans Effect on fat digestibility and faecal fatty acid excretion. Eur. J. Clin. Nutr. 48, 595-597. 

Antilipidemic activity. Triglycerides structured lipids from coconut oil, administered to rats at a dose of 10% of diet for 60 days, produced a 15% decrease in total cholesterol and a 23% decrease in LDL cholesterol levels in the serum compared to coconut oil-fed rats. Total and free cholesterol levels in the liver of structured lipid-fed rats were lowered by 31 and 36%, respectively. The triglycerides in the serum and liver were decreased by 14 and 30%, respectively " . Anti-nociceptive activity. Aqueous extract of the husk fiber, administered orally to mice at doses of 200 or 400 mg/kg, produced an inhibition of the acetic acid-induced writhing response . 

Toxicity assessment. Ethanol extract of the leaf, administered intraperitoneally to mice, was active, LDjf, 0.75 g/kg"" " . Ethanol extract of the fresh leaf and stem, administered intraperitoneally to mice at the minimum toxic dose of 1 mL/animal, was active. Water extract of the fresh leaf and stem, administered intraperitoneally to mice at the minimum toxic dose of 1 mL/ animal, was active " . Aqueous extract of the husk fiber, administered orally to mice, was active, LDjf, 2.30 g/kgf" " . Tricarboxylate carrier influence. Oil, administered to rats at a dose of 15% of the diet for 3 weeks, produced a differential mitochondrial fatty acid composition and no appreciable change in phospholipids composition and cholesterol level. Compared with coconut oil-fed rats, the mitochondrial tricarboxylate carrier activity was markedly decreased in liver mitochondria from fish oil-fed rats. No difference in the Arrhenius plot between the two groups was observed "". 

Coir. Coir is a valuable and versatile fiber derived from the coconut husk. The best quality coir is produced from green coconut, which is more difficult to harvest and has a lower copra yield than more mature coconut. The amount of copra and the quantity of coir produced are inversely related (61). Husks must be retted to manufacture coir. This process involves holding the husks under water, away from air, with mud and leaves for a period of a few months to a year. Fermentation is accomplished by short rod bacteria such as Pseudomonas, Rerobacter, and Bacillus. The microbial process is a polyphenolic degradation in which the pectic substances are decomposed. Slow moving and slightly saline water in a natural source speeds the process and produces a better quality fiber (66). 

Green coconut fiber was obtained from green coconut husk through a process developed by Embrapa Agroindustria Tropical [28]. It was cut and sieved to obtain particles between 32 and 35 mesh. It was then washed with distilled water and dried at 60 °C before being used as immobilization matrix. 

As mentioned earlier, furyl alcohol can serve as both dispersants and matrices for polar nanoscale particles, cellulose whiskers were used to obtain PFA nanocomposites without the use of solvents or surfactants (Pranger and Tannenbaum 2008). Nowadays, the various sources (e.g., coconut husk and pea hull fibers) of cellulose whiskers are being explored (Chen et al. 2009 Rosa et al. 2010). 

Chapters 2-10 discuss in detail the different properties of natural lignocellulosic fibers, their processing and fabrication of polymer composites. Chapter 11 summarizes the structure, chemistry and properties of different agro-residual fibers such as wheat straw corn stalk, cob and husks okra stem banana stem, leaf, bxmch reed stalk nettle pineapple leaf sugarcane oil palm bunch and coconut husk along with their processing. 

Coir fibers are obtained from the husk of the coconut. Coir fiber is generally extracted by mechanical means from the plant [52]. Manilal et al. [52] extracted coir fibers by a closed retting process in an aerobic retting reactor. Bakri and Eichhorn [53] mechanically extracted coir and celery fibers and studied their tensile behaviors in terms of micromechanics. Mothe and Miranda [45] studied the thermal stability and chemical constituent analyses of coir fibers. Khan and Alam [54] investigated the effects of several chemical treatments on the thermal and meachanical properties of coir fibers. Mahato et al. [55] studied the effect of alkalization on the thermal degradation of coir fibers. 

Coir Coconut husk Seed-hair fibers Cocos nuHfera Africa, Brazil Tropics, India, Mexico... 

The coir fiber (diameter = 200-240 pm density = 1.2-1.4 g/cm and micro-fibrillar angle = 30°-39°) was obtained from Central Coir Research Institute, Coir Board, Kerala, India. The coconut husk was cut down into small pieces of approximately 10 mm long before making composites. ENR was prepared in the laboratory. Phenol and formaldehyde (37 % w/w) were obtained from E. Merck, India, and used as received. Reagent grade of acetone and toluene were obtained from E. Merck, India. Epichlorohydrin and sodium hydroxide were procured from S.D. Fine Chemicals,... 

In 1951, a process to degrade cellulosic fibers with H SO was introduced by Ranby for the first time [111]. Since then a series of attempts have been taken to prepare CNC from various cellulosic fibers such as curaua fibers [117], coconut husk [118], cotton and tunicates [119], sugarcane bagasse [120], and wood [ 121 ]. In the acid hydrolysis process a suspension with specific acid concentration for a particular time and temperature based on various sources of fibers is mechanically stirred. Then the reaction is quenched with cold water. Subsequently, the washing process is conducted... 

Goir. This fiber, obtained from husks of the fmit of the coconut palm. Cocos nucifera (palm family, Arecaceae), is mainly produced ia ladia and Sri... 

Lanka. The fruits are broken by hand or machine, and the fiber extracted from the broken husks from which the coconut has been removed for copra. The husks are retted ia rivers, and the fiber separated by hand beating with sticks or by a decortication machine. The fibers are washed, dried, and hackled, and used ia upholstery, cordage, fabrics, mats, and bmshes. 

Kokos, -baum, m. coco, coco palm, coconut tree, -butter,/, coconut butter (coconut oil), -faser, /. coco fiber, coir (fiber from the husk of the coconut), -fett, n. coconut oil. -gam,... 

Coir is fiber that has been beaten and combed from the rough brown outer husk of the coconut. This material can be used in a very rough state,... 

The husk is 5-10-cm-thick fibrous cover adhering to the coconut shell. Like the shell, it is also used mainly for fuel in farms. Products derived from the husk are coir, bristle, rubberized fiber, rope, geotextiles, and activated carbon. 

U.S. Pat. No. 6,337,138 [101] (by Crane Plastics Company, TimberTech) discloses a cellulosic, inorganic-filled plastic composite, comprising 25-40% of polyethylene, 30-70% of cellulosic material, such as wood fiber, seed husks, rice hulls, newspaper, kenaf, coconut shells, and 1-20% (by weight) of talc. 

FIGURE 8.8 Photograph of a coconut tree a pile of fiber containing husk and exocarp removed from the fruit. (From http //www.bio.ilstu.edu/armstrong/syllabi/coir/coirl.htm. With permission.)... 

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