Valorisation of cattail (Typha) biomass: Fibre extraction, properties, and applications in sustainable material systems
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Date
2026-01-18
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier Ltd.
Abstract
The cattail plant (Typha spp.) is a low-cost, renewable, and multifunctional natural fibre resource with strong
potential for sustainable and circular material systems. This review explores the extraction methods, properties,
and application potential of cattail fibres. Fibre origin and the extraction route are key factors affecting fibre
microstructure and performance. Mechanical extraction typically yields fibres with high variability, whereas
optimized alkali, enzymatic, and hybrid treatments substantially enhance fibre quality. Consequently, reported
tensile strengths for leaf and stem fibres span from below 100 MPa in untreated form to values exceeding 1000
MPa under optimized processing conditions. On a specific property basis, optimized cattail leaf/stem fibres
perform competitively compared to conventional fibres, albeit with greater variability. In composites, cattail
f
ibres act as effective lightweight reinforcements, offering improved mechanical performance, energy absorption,
and damping. Cattail seed fibres, despite limited tensile capacity, exhibit exceptional bulk resilience and hy
drophobicity, enabling insulation, cushioning, filtration, and oil-sorption applications. Overall, cattail fibres
emerge as versatile materials whose performance is governed by method-property relationships, supporting their
potential as next-generation sustainable materials.
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
Keywords
Cattail fibres, Natural fibres, Biodegradable fibres, Sustainable materials