Development and Characterization of Biodegradable Plant Pots from NaOH-Silane Treated Kenaf Fiber-Reinforced Sodium Alginate

Abstract

The rapid use of conventional plastic pots in agriculture and horticulture has raised significant environmental concerns due to their non-biodegradability. Although, biodegradable pots have an advantage of ease decomposition in nature but often suffered in poor mechanical strength. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of chemically treated kenaf fibers at different fiber loadings on the physical, structural, tensile and biodegradation properties of sodium alginate-based biodegradable plant pots. Kenaf fibers were chemically treated with 5% NaOH and 2% (APTES) silane to improve surface properties. Tensile and the structural properties of fabricated pots at different fiber loading (5, 10 and 15 wt.%) were examined via tensile test and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Additionally, physical properties and biodegradation tests were also evaluated. Tensile test demonstrated that pots with 5% NaOH and 2% (APTES) silane treated-kenaf exhibited higher tensile strength of 4.93 MPa compared to untreated kenaf fibers, with the optimum fiber of 10 wt.%. Water absorption of the biodegradable pots decreased from 536.88% (control)to a range of 174%–146% for the treated formulations with increasing kenaf fibers contents, indicating improved moisture resistance while, soil burial tests confirmed that all pots were biodegradable and the incorporation of kenaf fibers increased their resistance to deterioration. The results suggest that treated kenaf fiber-reinforced sodium alginate pots possess adequate mechanical strength and improved moisture resistance, offering a sustainable and practical alternative to conventional plastic pots.