BEPE project - associated to FAPESP master Fellowship (process 2012/05784-7): study of the physicochemical characteristics of textile vegetal fibers from Malvaceae family

Abstract

This project aims to obtain BEPE grant, associated to FAPESP Master fellowship (process 2012/05784-7), "Study of the physicochemical characteristics of textile vegetal fibers from Malvaceae family", in which will be held the physical and chemical characterization of plant species of the family Malvaceae and the study of the properties of these fibers with respect to the possibility of employment in various industrial sectors. The research consists of the physicochemical characterization of 06 vegetal species, already collected, from family Malvaceae, namely: Sida cordifolia L; Sida carpinifolia L. f.; Sida rhombifolia L; Sidastrum paniculatum (L.) Fryxell; Wissadula subpeltata (Kuntze) R. E. Fries and Malvastrum coromandelianum (L.) Gurck, which will be submitted, at the School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo (EACH - USP), to physical elongation, elasticity and resistance tests performed on a tester machine; determination of moisture regain; determination of the density of the fiber; combustion; chemical tests, measuring the pH of the aqueous extract, the effect of organic solvents, alkalis, acids, determination of the amount of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The aim of this project BEPE is also to held at Polytechnic University of Catalunya (UPC - Spain), Digital Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), TGA (Thermogravimetric analysis, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Meter fiber length and Density gradients column. This research will lead to the acquisition of knowledge about our flora and their employability, publications and enabling new possibilities of applications of these fibers. (AU)