The 2012 RUFORUM Biennial Conference is the third in the series. The main objective of the Biennial conferences is to provide a platform for agricultural research for development stakeholders in Africa and beyond to actively exchange findings and experiences, while at the same time learning lessons towards improving performance of the agricultural sector and ultimately people’s livelihoods. The biennial conference is RUFORUM’s most comprehensive meeting for the diversity of stakeholers in agriculture. It is especially dedicated to graduate students and their supervisors, grantees in RUFORUM member universities and alumni. It is a platform for peer review, quality control, mentorship, networking and shared learning. The third Biennial Conference was attended by 657 participants.This record contains an extended abstract accepted under Integrated Crop Management
The Use of Enzymes in the Bio-processing of Agave Americana and Agave Sisalana Fibres in Swaziland
Abstract:
This research was done in different agro-ecological zones in
Swaziland where there are women and men Agave fibre
decorticators and weavers. Current methods used to extract
fibre from Agave spp. tend to pollute the environment since
they use reagents that are not clean. The purpose of the study
was to explore the use of enzymes as an alternative method
for extraction, cleaning and softening of Agave sisalana and
Agave americana fibres from the plants’ leaves in order to
obtain environmentally friendly products. This study which has
just began, will assess the current status of sisal fibre processing
in making products and evaluate the use of natural dyes.
Preliminary results revealed that fibres obtained from sisal are
not soft enough to be used in several products. This therefore
calls for studies on resin application on the rough fibres to
improve their texture.
Cette recherche a été effectuée dans les différentes zones agroécologiques
au Swaziland où il ya des femmes et des hommes
décortiqueurs et tisserands des fibres d’Agave. Les méthodes
actuelles utilisées pour extraire les fibres d’Agavespp ont
tendance à polluer l’environnement, car elles utilisent des réactifs
qui ne sont pas propres. Le but de cette étude était d’explorer
l’utilisation d’enzymes comme une méthode alternative pour
l’extraction, le nettoyage et le ramollissement des fibres d’Agave
sisalana etd’Agave americanaà partir des feuilles des plantes
afin d’obtenir des produits respectueux de l’environnement.
Cette étude, qui vient de commencer, permettra d’évaluer l’état
actuel de traitement des fibres de sisal dans la fabrication des
produits et d’évaluer l’utilisation des colorants naturels. Les
résultats préliminaires ont révélé que les fibres obtenues à partir
de sisal ne sont pas assez doux pour être utilisées dans plusieursproduits. Ceci fait appel dès lors aux études sur l’application de
résine sur les fibres rugueuses pour améliorer leur texture.
Language:
English
Extended abstracts submitted under Integrated Crop Management
Date of publication:
2012
Country:
Region Focus:
Southern Africa
Collection:
RUFORUM Conferences and Workshops
Agris Subject Categories:
Agrovoc terms:
Additional keywords:
Licence conditions:
Open Access
Access restriction:
Form:
Printed resource
Publisher:
Notes:
