Structure and properties of natural cellulose fibers obtained from sorghum leaves and stems.

For the first time, sorghum leaves and stems have been used to produce natural cellulose fibers with properties suitable for composite, textile, and other high-value fibrous applications. The leaf and stems fibers produced are multicellular and have similar cellulose contents. The breaking tenacity and elongation of the fibers are similar to that of natural cellulose fibers such as kenaf and cornstalk fibers. However, the sorghum fibers have a modulus of about 113 g/denier (15 GPa) similar to the modulus of cornstalk fibers but higher than that of cotton and cornhusk fibers. At least 7 million tons of natural cellulose fibers can be produced by using the sorghum stems and leaves available as byproducts every year. Using the sorghum byproducts as a source for cellulose fibers will help to add value to the sorghum crops and also make the fiber industry more sustainable.