Introduction

Geotextiles and related products have many applications and currently support many
civil engineering applications including roads, airfields, railroads, embankments, retaining
structures, reservoirs, canals, dams, bank protection, coastal.

Natural fibers present important advantages such as low density, appropriate stiffness,
mechanical properties, high disposability and renewability. Moreover, they are recyclable and
biodegradable. There has been lot of research on use of natural fibers in reinforcements.

Natural fibers are extracted from annual crops like plants, wood, chicken feathers and
human hair. Natural fiber extraction possesses low cost processing techniques than synthetic
fibers. Natural fibers are lingo cellulosic material and their surfaces covered by hydroxyl and
carboxyl end groups. They have better bonding with the resin matrix than glass and carbon
fibers. Because natural fiber have micro pores on their surfaces. Natural fiber reinforced
composites possess good engineering properties like high strength, fracture toughness,
dimensional stability and biodegradability etc.

Coconut fibers are natural and biodegradable solution to erosion control in any
environmentally sensitive location. Constructed from coconut fibers, these products are able to
provide a natural support system until vegetation is able to take root. Coconut fibers are known
for their high strength and biodegradable nature, making them a favorite for wetlands,
protected areas, shorelines and more. Banana fiber had a very limited application and was
primarily used for making items like ropes, mats, and some other composites materials. With
the increasing environmental awareness and growing importance of eco-friendly fabrics,
banana fiber has also been recognized for all its good qualities and now its application is
increasing in other fields too such as apparel garments and home furnishings.
 General Objective
The general objective of the study is to determine the effectiveness and quality of banana
fiber.

 To test the strength of banana fiber for geotextile production.

 To determine the effectiveness of banana fiber as geotextile as soil erosion control.
 To compare the strength between banana fiber and coconut fiber.

Scope and Limitation of the study

This study focus on geotextile production, its effectiveness & the quality as a soil erosion
control.

This study is limited for:

1. Testing the strength of banana fiber for geotextile production.
2. Determine the effectiveness of banana fiber as geotextile as soil erosion control and,
3. Comparison between banana fiber & coconut fiber

Definition of Terms
Banana – Elongated crescent-shape yellow fruit with soft sweet flesh.
Coconut – Large hard-shelled oval nut with a fibrous husk containing thick white meat
with fluid or milk.
Fiber – A slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn.
Geotextile – Are permeable fabrics which have the ability to separate filter, reinforce,
protect or drain.

Methodology
This chapter is all about the steps or ways on conducting the study. It will include the
design of the study, location of the study, equipment/tools, extraction of fibers either manually
or with the help of machines, and statistical approach to develop a comparative study on the
behavior of banana fiber and coconut fiber.

Design of the study:

This study was belonging to experimental class of research in analysis and
observation in gathering data’s that is needed in the study.
 Location of the Study:
This study was to be conducted at University of Southern Mindanao (USM) that
could be located at Kabacan North Cotabato. This study was to be conducted at second
(2nd) semester of school year 2016-2017.

Material
This equipment would help the researcher to gather data’s and information, to make
every part of research precise.

Extraction of Banana Fiber

Banana fiber is extracted from banana tree bark. The trunk is peeled. Banana
fiber is generally extracted through a cumbersome manual process. By using metal scraper (Flat
and blunt blade), the pseudo stem sheaths are scraped and the fiber is separated. The
extraction of natural fiber from the plants required certain care to avoid damage. Initially the
banana plants sections were cut from the main stem of the plants and then rolled lightly to
remove the excess moisture. Impurities in the rolled fibers such as pigments, broken fibers,
coating of the fibers were cleaned and dried. In modern days people are now use the machines
to extract the banana fibers.

Extraction of Coconut Fiber

Green coconuts, harvested after about 6 to 12 months on the palm, contain

pliable white fibers. Brown fiber is obtained by harvesting fully mature coconuts when
nutritious layer surrounding the seed is ready to be processed into copra and desiccated
coconut.
  Husking
Now harvested coconuts are divided in two categories. The ripe coconuts are sent to the
machinery or laymen to begin the process of husking. The unripe coconuts are spread on the
ground to dry for month or more to obtain the level of maturing to husk out.

 Retting

Process of decomposing the husk’s pulp through natural and chemical process to separate
the coir fiber. During this process husk are partially decomposed making it easier to separate
the coconut coir fiber and coconut coir pith.

- Fresh water retting

Fully ripe husk are immersed in normal fresh water leaving it soaked for six
month for microbes to react and ease the process of retting.

- Salt water retting

Green husk are immersed in artificially salinated water leaving it soaked. For
eight months or more to help completing the retting process.

But modern days of retting there is different methodology of retting process of coconut
husk to defiber that reduces months of retting into days of retting.

- For fully ripe husk – mechanical process

Fully ripe husk are crushed in the machine and retted only 7 to 10 days to start
the process of separating the fiber. Where the immature husk are dry milled for other
purposes.

- For green husk – mechanical process

Green husk are crushed and dampened with water for 1 to 2 days and sent to
defibering.

 Defibering
Manually workers use wooden mallets to beat on the pulp extracted after retting
to defiber the pith and fiber, now modern machines have steel drums with beater arms
to separate the fiber and pith. Pith and fiber are collected separately by using rotating
steel drums. Later the fibers are cleaned by water and dried in the sun to extract clean
fibers.
 BANANA FIBER AS GEOTEXTILE
AS ALTERNATIVE COCONUT FIBER

JODI ALLYSSAH RACHMAN

NOVEMBER 2017