Valorization of Banana Pseudostem Biomass for Sustainable Paper Production under Climate Change

Abstract

Paper is an essential commodity in daily life and is widely used around the world. Traditionally, it is produced from wood pulp, contributing significantly to deforestation. In response to environmental concerns, alternative lignocellulosic sources, such as agricultural waste biomass, are gaining attention. Sindh, a major banana-growing region, generates large quantities of banana plant residues, including pseudostems and leaves. These are typically discarded or burned, releasing CO₂ and contributing to environmental pollution. Therefore, the proper disposal and valorization of banana pseudostem waste offer a sustainable alternative to wood-based pulp. In this study, banana pseudostems were processed for fiber extraction and utilized for paper production and other value-added bioproducts. The extracted banana fiber exhibited promising properties, including fiber length (1.75 mm), diameter (29.3 µm), and coarseness (0.13 mg/m), fineness (19%), ash content (8.4%), and moisture retention capacity (11.72%). The pulping process was optimized by varying the cooking time (45, 60, and 75 minutes) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) concentrations (10g, 15g, and 20g). The highest pulp yield was obtained under the conditions of 10% NaOH, at 130 °C, with a cooking time of 63 minutes. Paper sheets produced from the banana pseudostem fiber demonstrated excellent mechanical and physical properties: tensile strength (81.66 ± 3.88 N), bursting strength (31.63 ± 5.51 kPa), moisture retention (8.3 ± 1.00%), and brightness (69.63 ± 2.52%). This study concludes that the recycling of banana pseudostem waste can significantly reduce biomass burning and associated CO₂ emissions. Banana pseudostem pulp presents a viable and sustainable alternative to wood pulp for paper manufacturing. The process is economically feasible, cost-effective, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly. Furthermore, this valorization approach can benefit local banana growers and entrepreneurs, particularly women, by enabling the production of handmade paper, handicrafts, and other bioproducts. These initiatives could promote rural livelihoods and foster the development of a circular bioeconomy, supporting climate change mitigation efforts and reducing reliance on synthetic paper materials in the pulp and paper industry.