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Process for converting tropical plant material into fibers

  • US 5,958,182 A
  • Filed: 04/04/1997
  • Issued: 09/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 04/04/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A process for converting a tropical plant material into naturally hydrophobic fibers, said process comprising the steps of:

  • providing a naturally hydrophobic fibrous tropical plant material having an initial latex content, said fibrous tropical plant material selected from the group consisting of;

    banana stalks, plantain stalks, Cavendish plant stalks and pineapple crowns;

    reducing said fibrous tropical plant material to a form a plurality of separated fibers having a initial latex content;

    washing said plurality of separated fibers in an aqueous solution to extract a first portion of latex and other hydrophobic natural juices therefrom;

    pressing said plurality of washed separated fibers to remove a second portion of latex and other hydrophobic natural juices therefrom, wherein said pressed fibers retain sufficient latex and other hydrophobic natural juices to remain hydrophobic;

    drying said plurality of pressed separated fibers; and

    wherein said dried seperated fibers have a latex content less than 50% of said initial latex content of said fibers prior to washing.

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