International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology (IRJET)
e-ISSN: 2395-0056
Volume: 12 Issue: 05 | May 2025
p-ISSN: 2395-0072
www.irjet.net
Waste Valorization of Banana Pseudo stems intoSustainable Sanitary pads Khushi Patel1, Kartik Iyer2 1PG student, Dept.of Environmental science and technology, UPL University, Gujarat, India
2 Assistant professor, Dept.of Environmental science and technology, UPL University, Gujarat, India
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Abstract- Conventional sanitary pads available in the
while maintaining its biodegradability.By converting banana pseudostems into biodegradable sanitary pads, this investigation not only furnishes an environmentally friendly solution for menstrual hygiene but also provides farmers with a novel revenue stream, particularly in flood-prone regions where banana crops are often adversely affected. This research delivers a comparative analysis of the two fiber processing techniques, assessing their efficiency, costeffectiveness, and environmental ramifications. The results contribute to the advancement of sustainable menstrual hygiene products, advocating for eco-friendly alternatives to conventional sanitary pads.
market are non-biodegradable and contribute significantly to environmental pollution due to their synthetic components. This study explores the use of banana pseudostem waste, which is often discarded or burned by farmers, leading to environmental degradation. By adopting a sustainable processing method, banana pseudostem fibers are transformed into an absorbent core for biodegradable sanitary pads. This approach not only reduces the environmental impact of menstrual waste but also provides farmers, particularly in flood-prone regions where banana crops are frequently damaged, with an alternative source of income.
1.1 Materials:
Key Words: Banana fiber, fiber processing, absorbent core,
Sanitary napkins traditionally consist of three separate layers: a superior layer, an inferior layer, and an absorbent core. In the present investigation, the superior and inferior layers are constructed from polylactic acid (PLA)-based biodegradable materials, whereas the absorbent core is comprised of a composite formulation of organic cotton and banana fiber.
biodegradable sanitary pads, alkaline treatment, enzyme treatment, sustainable menstrual hygiene, agricultural waste valorization.
1.INTRODUCTION Traditional sanitary pads are a significant contributor to landfill waste and environmental degradation due to their non-biodegradable constituents. Concurrently, banana pseudostems, which are agricultural byproducts generated post-harvest, are frequently discarded by farmers using unsustainable practices, resulting in air pollution and detrimental emissions. This research investigates the viability of utilizing banana fiber extracted from pseudostems as a sustainable raw material for the formulation of an absorbent core in biodegradable sanitary pads, thereby addressing the dual issues of agricultural waste management and the reduction of plastic-based menstrual waste.Two distinct methodologies for fiber processing were scrutinized to augment the properties of fibers for applications in absorbent cores: alkaline treatment employing sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and enzymatic treatment. The alkaline procedure instigates a chemical modification of the fiber structure that enhances absorption capabilities, whereas the enzyme-based approach offers a more ecologically sustainable modification process. A sustainable methodology was implemented to ensure a minimal application of chemicals, thereby rendering the processed fiber more suitable for sanitary pad applications
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1.2 Methodology: A.Extraction of fibers: Banana stems were collected from Govali village in Bharuch, and the fibers were manually extracted using a hand scraper.
Fig -1: Extraction Of Banana Fiber
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