EXTRACTION AND UTILIZATION OF BANANA PLANT RESIN FOR POSSIBLE USE AS PIGMENT BINDER ON COTTON FABRIC

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Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
The study focuses on, possible methods of extracting and processing resins obtained from Musaceae (banana plant), precisely: Musa Cavendish Dwarf and Musa Paradisiaca to be used as pigment binder and its fastness properties when printed on cotton fabrics. Additional purpose of the study was to determine the quantity and quality of resins extracted from different species of the banana plant. To achieve these purposes some additives such as alum, potash and salt were used and also some fixative processes such as oxidization, steaming and ironing, were explored. All samples were printed on cotton fabric and subjected to standard washing, rubbing as well as light fastness tests. The tests were done through some manual and laboratory approaches with pigment paste on cotton fabric. The resins from banana plant species were extracted by tapping and pounding then squeezed out. They were used fresh into the paste, whereby different thickeners were introduced namely: sodium alginate, gum tragacanth, in separate beakers, and all were mixed with three different mordants namely: alum, potash and salt. It was then printed on the cotton fabric, oxidized, steamed and ironed. The printed fabrics were tested for wash, rubbing, and light fastness tests: It is also inferred that the amount of resins mixed was 2.5mls of resin with half pellet of pigment, 2 tea spoons of thickener 2/3 spoon of mordants well mixed for 3-4mins. I.S.O. (International Standard Organization) 3 for the wash fastness test, the results of wash and rubbing fastness tests were interpreted using the grey scale (I.S.O. 150), while the light fastness test was interpreted using the blue standard. All results were reported in photoraphs, samples, specimens, plates and tables. It can be concluded that locally produced binder from both species of Musaceae namely Musa cavendish dwarf and Musa paradisiaca produced acceptable results, especially wash fastness test, followed by the rub fastness test and then light fastness test. Based on the selection, collection, analysis and uses of data obtained in the cause of this study, conclusions are as follow: 1. Two species of Musaceae were selected namely: - Musa Cavendish Dwarf - Musa Paradisiaca 2. The quantity extractable from the pseudostem of each species was as follow: vi - 74gm mass weight of raw material used produced—45mls of resin from Alusa Cavendish Dwarf - 200gm mass weight of raw material used produced—*l4Omls of resin from Alusa Paradisiaca. The quantity extractable from Musa Paradisiaca was more than the one of Musa Cavendish Dwarf 3. The method of extraction employed was direct method, which has to do with pounding and then squeeze out the resin. The method adopted was profitable. 4. The mordants used in the study were: Alum, Potash, Sodium chloride, and Ammonium chloride 5. The Wash, Rub, and Light fastness property was of acceptable quality. Therefore, the results of this study have proven its relevance to the economic need of this Nation.