Characteristics and performance analysis of a natural medical bandage prepared from coconut fiber

Abstract

In this research, the use of coconut fibers in the development of medical wound dressing sheets was investigated. The fiber preparation process involved cleaning the fibers with distilled water, boiling for 1 h, and soaking in a 10 g/L NaOH solution for 4 h. The fibers were then bleached in a 30% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) solution for 3 h after the alkaline treatment. The fibers were formed into sheets using a mesh mold to create a smooth molded surface. The surface morphology was analyzed and tested using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and the chemical structure was characterized with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Biodegradation was evaluated by measuring water adsorption at different stages of drying. The results of the SEM analysis of the coconut fibers revealed a thin elongated shape and depositions forming overlapping structures that resembled a shiny film. The absorption peak of lignin at 1730 cm^-1 in the FTIR spectrum decreased in the 1244–1730 cm^-1 range after alkaline treatment. Functional groups corresponding to lignin, hemicellulose, and fat were found to be removed well by the combined bleaching and NaOH treatment. The tests indicate that the molded fiber sheets biodegrade under soil burial with simulated natural conditions, with an average biodegradation temperature of 33.1°C–35.4°C, at a significance level of 0.05. These results suggest that physically and chemically treated coconut fibers are promising biodegradable materials for medical wound dressings, offering environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic wound dressings.