Comparative study of long date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) midrib and spadix fibers with other commercial leaf fibers

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) has been emerging as a rich source of cellulosic fibers due to its wide availability and large production of byproducts that are suitable for fiber extraction. However, available literature lacks a comprehensive study that benchmarks date palm fibers against other leaf fibers. This work provides the first experimental comparative analysis between textile fibers from date palm midrib and spadix to other commonly used leaf fibers (sisal, abaca, and banana). The study evaluates the morphological, chemical, mechanical and thermal properties. Results showed that date palm fibers are finer than sisal and abaca (123 μm) and have higher cellulose purity than sisal and banana (59%). Furthermore, they possess enhanced thermal stability up to 250 °C, high crystallinity index comparable to abaca (64%), and high tensile strength comparable to sisal (602 MPa). This research will help in identifying the position of date palm fibers, which can shed the light on potential valorization of such underutilized resource. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].