Comparative study of FESEM, EDS, FTIR on alkali treated and untreated fiber of Aerva

The Amaranthaceae family plant, Aerva Tomentosa, grows abundantly in western Rajasthan, India. In the production of bio composites, the Aerva Tomentosa (Bui) can be used successfully as natural fibers. In this study, Aerva Tomentosa (Bui) fibers were extracted from the Bui plant and treated with an alkaline solution containing 5% NaOH. The investigation involved morphological and chemical characteristics of the extracted untreated Aerva Tomentosa fibers (ATF(0)) and extracted alkali treated Aerva Tomentosa fibers (ATF(1)). According to an analysis of ATF(0) and ATF(1) using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, both ATF(0) and ATF(1) included functional groups for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. The elimination of extractives from the surface of the fibers isolated from Aerva tomentosa is demonstrated by FESEM and EDS analysis. The surface of untreated fibers becomes smoother following treatment, as evidenced by FESEM images taken at various resolutions.