Quality improvement of banana fiber through sequential enzymatic treatment

The search for environment-friendly and sustainable techniques like microbial enzymatic treatment for processing of natural fibers outcompete traditional techniques of using harsh chemicals and environmental pollution. This investigation explores the application of microbial enzymes in enhancing the quality of banana pseudo-stem fibers. Solid-state fermentation was systematically optimized for the synthesis of pectinase, xylanase, and laccase, utilizing the previously isolated strains Aspergillus niger SKN1 and Pycnoporus sanguineus SKS1. The sequential enzymatic treatment demonstrated substantial degumming efficiency, evident in a reduction of weight (22.6%), moisture sorption (16.83%), and fiber diameter in comparison to the control. Additionally, a noteworthy decline in pectin (73.75%), xylan (61.9%), and lignin (52.3%) content was observed in the enzyme-treated fibers relative to the control. Moreover, scanning electron microscopy confirmed the efficiency of the synergistic enzymatic treatment. The sequential enzymatic treatment exhibited promising potential to transform crude banana fibers into textile-grade fibers, offering an alternative resource for the textile industry.