From Ecological Threat to Sustainable Material Development: Exploring the Potential of Three Invasive Species From Northern Senegal

ABSTRACT The valorization of invasive plant species offers a valuable and promising strategy to supply sustainable raw materials to meet the socioeconomic needs of communities and industries. This study evaluates the physicochemical characteristics of three plant species— Mariscus cylindristachyus ( M. cylindristachyus ), Aeschynomene elaphroxylon ( A. elaphroxylon ), and Phragmites australis ( P. australis )—to assess their suitability for applications and, furthermore, their valorization. Chemical analyses show significant holocellulose contents ranging from 52% to 68% for the three species. The cellulose content was estimated at 51.4%, 47.9%, and 53.1%, respectively, for M. cylindristachyus , A. elaphroxylon , and P. australis , indicating strong potential for use in pulp, paper, and papermaking applications. The ash content, determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), was approximately 4.75% across the species and consistent with chemical assay results. Additionally, the levels of extractable compounds make these plants comparable to annual species. Structural characterizations combined with conductometric titrations and TGA confirmed that the extracted cellulosic fractions are of high purity and exhibit good thermal stability. The measured ionic strengths also align with values reported in the literature for similar lignocellulosic species. Overall, the findings suggest that these invasive plants hold promising bio‐based resources for papermaking, packaging, and composite materials. Further work should focus on pilot‐scale pulping, process optimization, and end‐use performance testing to validate industrial feasibility.