Chemical characterization of Coco Fiber (Cocus nucifera L.) from Mexico using Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)

Abstract

There is a growing interest in products with less environmental impact, this makes the use of natural fibers a viable alternative. The use of materials of biological origin is increasing in an attempt to reduce the amount of thermoplastic polymers from non-renewable sources. In this framework, the work characterizes the chemical characterization of coconut fiber (Cocus nucifera L.), by means of infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and the spectra of the fibers of coconut, from two important growing sites, the Acapulco and San Jerónimo de Juárez regions, in the state of Guerrero, Mexico, the results obtained are compared with other spectra of other natural fibers, due to the high content of lignin, properties are attributed viscoelastic, by which it is inferred that when the fibers are subjected to a compression load or an impact force, the amorphous region (lignin) functions as a buffer and is resilient to the applied phenomena, a desirable characteristic in packaging materials, this proves that the coconut fiber with natural binder, could be a proposal to be used as packing material in packaging, the data corroborate a high percentage of cellulose and lignin present in the samples studied.