Optimisation of biopulping process by bacteria from rhynchophorus ferrugineus on empty fruit bunch for pulp industry

Lignin removal is an essential phase in pulping process. The conventional pulping process has many challenges such as high chemical and energy consumptions, as well as long period and sensitivity of fungal during fermentation process. A cleaner, cheaper, and more effective lignin removal method attracts the interest of industrialists. This research focuses on optimising lignin removal via biopulping process using several combinations of R. ferrugineus’s gut microbiome such as Klebsiella pneumoniae (K), Serratia marcescens (S), Pseudomonas citronellolis (P) and Enterobacter oryzae (E). The optimum conditions of biopulping process were determined through the design of experiment (DOE). DOE involves two phases: screening the significant parameter using Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and optimising conditions for biopulping process using Box-Behnken design (BBD). The chemical properties of EFB biopulp were characterised according to the Technical Association Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI), Chlorite and Kursher-Hoffner methods. On the application side, the handsheets produced were assessed on its physical and mechanical properties according to TAPPI methods. The results revealed that the quadruple culture (KSPE) combination having the highest capacity to degrade lignin by 61.86% (using alkali lignin) with the production of lignin degradation enzymes at 2230.10 U/mL (LiP), 314.84 U/mL (MnP) and 973.80 U/mL (Lac). The biopulping of EFB using KSPE combination identified the optimised conditions as follows; incubation time = 48 h, temperature = 35 °C and glucose load = 5 mL per 100 mL medium with 52.70% of lignin removal. Significantly, the cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and extractive contents of the biopulp were recovered at 47.37%, 31.36%, 12.70% and 1.77% respectively. The impact of percentage lignin being removed was reflected on the quality of pulp produced. In this case, the brightness (32.50%), tensile index (9.65 Nm/g), burst index (0.98 kPa.m2/g) and tear index (2.71 mN.m2/g) of handsheet produced were acceptable for the production of printing and writing paper grades. This study had successfully demonstrated the optimised biopulping process of KSPE microbes on EFB. The alternative approach of delignification could promote an effective and greener technology for the future of pulp and paper industries

Cassava Peels for Alternative Fibre in Pulp and Paper Industry: Chemical Properties and Morphology Characterization

Without a proper waste management, the organic wastes such as cassava peels could result in increased amount of solid waste dump into landfill. This study aims to use non-wood organic wastes as pulp for paper making industries; promoting the concept of ‘from waste to wealth and recyclable material’. The objective  of this study is to determine the potential of casssava peel as alternative fibre in pulp and paper based on its chemical properties and surface morphology characteristic. Quantified parameters involved are holocellulose, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, one percent of sodium hydroxide, hot water solubility and ash content. The chemical characterization was in accordance with relevant TAPPI Test, Kurscher-Hoffner and Chlorite methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe and determine the morphological characteristic of untreated cassava peels fibre. In order to propose the suitability of the studied plant as an alternative fibre resource in pulp and paper making, the obtained results are compared to other published literatures especially from wood sources. Results indicated that the amount of holocellulose contents in cassava peels (66%) is the lowest than of wood (70 - 80.5%) and canola straw (77.5%); however this value is still within the limit suitability to produce paper. The lignin content (7.52%) is the lowest than those of all wood species (19.9-26.22%). Finally, the SEM images showed that untreated cassava peel contains abundance fibre such as hemicellulose and cellulose that is hold by the lignin in it. In conclusion, chemical properties and morphological characteristics of cassava peel indicated that it is suitable to be used as an alternative fibre sources for pulp and paper making industry, especially in countries with limited wood resource

Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) handsheet production from optimized biodelignification of rhynchophorus ferrugineus microbiome’s enzymes

Oil palm plantation generates massive amount of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB) which source great amount of cellulose. However, wrapping this cellulose is an adhesive compound called lignin. Biodelignification process was applied to remove lignin in pulp and paper industry. Therefore, this study is focused on optimum conditions of delignification process using a combination of bacteria from Rhynchophorus ferrugineus on OPEFB. The composition of chemicals was characterized according to the TAPPI standard method and Kursher-Hoffner method. The Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to determine the optimum conditions of delignification process based on lignin loss of OPEFB. The optimized fiber was investigated based on mechanical properties according to TAPPI standard methods. From BBD analysis, the finest conditions for delignification were recognized to be at 35 °C in 48 h incubation time with 5 mL of 1% glucose for predicted value 54.3% compared to experimental value 52% of lignin loss as revealed by confirmatory study. The highest result of chemical analysis was recognized at run 12 (1.15%), 10 (12.35%), 4 (48.99%) and 5 (1.28%) for extractive, lignin, cellulose and ash content respectively. The tensile, burst and tear were identified as 9.93 Nm/g, 0.98 kPa.m2/g and 2.57 mN.m2/g respectively for handsheet product at optimum conditions. In conclusion, the results obtained was indicated that the delignification process via bacteria combination from R. ferrugineus is a viable alternative pulping process for pulp and paper-based industry. The delignification process on OPEFB also provides a cleaner technology process and more sustainable development for the country

Exploring of Agro Waste (Pineapple Leaf, Corn Stalk, and Napier Grass) by Chemical Composition and Morphological Study

Malaysia is a country that is a rich source of agricultural waste material. Three different crops were studied here, including pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaf, corn (Zea mays) stalk, and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). These crops are characterized as agricultural waste materials in Malaysia and have a high potential to be used as alternative fibers for the paper making industry. The objective of this work was to analyze the chemical composition of pineapple leaf, corn stalk, and Napier grass and to investigate the fiber morphology of these crops. The chemical components analyzed include the following: cellulose (Kurshner-Hoffner method), holocellulose (chlorination method), hemicellulose (chlorination method), ash content (TAPPI method T211-om-93), lignin content (TAPPI method T222-om-98), and soluble sodium hydroxide (TAPPI method T203-om-98). All handsheets morphologies were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated each crop has the potential for use as a fiber in paper making. SEM images indicated a condensed composition of the fiber structure. The observed chemical composition and morphology of these three crops indicate their suitability for use as fiber sources for the paper industry

Cogon Grass As an Alternative Fibre for Pulp and Paper-Based Industry: On Chemical and Surface Morphological Properties

Abstract. The increasing demand in wood fibre consumptions especially in pulp and paper making has pushed forward the search for alternative fibre resources. Non-wood derived fibre could be good candidates due to its abundance availability. Agriculture residues or non-wood annual plants are good potential fibre resource for pulp and paper making. The objective of this study is to determine the suitability of cogon grass as an alternative fibre for pulp and paper making by analysing its chemical and surface morphological properties. The cellulose, hemicelluloses, lignin, 1% NaOH solubility, hot water solubility and ash contents were quantified to analyse its chemical characteristics. Quantification of chemical compositions was conducted in accordance with relevant Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Tests, Kurscher-Hoffner and Chlorite methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the surface morphology of the cogon grass fibre. Results obtained indicate that the cellulose (37.13%) and hemicellulose (27.13%) content is comparable with other published non-woods and the lignin (5.67%) content is favourably the lowest. In addition, the hot water and 1% NaOH solubilities are (3.83%) and (19.64%) respectively. SEM images show that cogon grass fibres contained abundance and long fibres which provide good strength of the produced handsheet. Based on the chemical and surface morphological properties analyses, cogon grass is a good alternative fibre resource especially for pulp and paper-based industries

Identification and expression of ligninase enzymes from tropical asia wood insect for agro-pulp biodelignification: a theoretical framework

Current pulp-processing in pulp and paper based industries are inefficient in removing the lignin as this compound is recalcitrant towards degradation. Transitioning from conventional pulping process into bio-delignification through utilisation of ligninase enzymes is one of the alternatives to improve the ability to fully utilize all components of wood to produce high quality fibres. Extensive research efforts have been focused on increase the production of ligninase enzymes from white rot fungi as a whole organism for industrial applications. However, enzymes activity produced from fungi are rather low as lignin modification is a secondary metabolism in which the enzyme only be expressed under particular conditions. Using genetic manipulations to incorporate genes associate for delignification isolated from different organisms such as tropical Asian wood-feeding insect into bacteria expression system will allow rapid enzyme production. This theoretical framework aims to produce an enzyme with high ligninase activity that will be used for removal of lignin during pulp-processing. These enzymes are thought to be more economically efficient in degrading lignin and involves less use of chemicals thus make this processing more environmentally friendly

Brief Dataset on produced handsheet from oil palm residue lignocellulose treated with Bacillus cereus on mechanical and physical characterization

This article presents experimental data on oil palm biomass (oil palm leaves, oil palm trunk and empty fruit bunch) handsheet production characterization by biodelignification treatment using Bacillus cereus extracted from termite gut ( Coptotermus curvignathus ). It associates the lignocellulose chemical composition obtained via technical association pulp and paper industry TAPPI T 222 om-02 testing on lignin con- tent reduction determination, holocellulose and hemicellu- lose content determination (Kurscher-Hoffner method). Sev- eral data obtained for handsheet characterization presents brightness, opacity, contrast ratio, din transparency, thick- ness, bursting and tearing indexes are collected. Handsheet surface morphology was also observed on ratio of gaps differ- ences between fiber bonding conducted using scanning elec- tron microscope (SEM) and ImageJ software. The raw data findings supplement chemical composition analysis for both untreated and treated substrates on handsheet quality per- formance check as presented in the research article “Bio- Mechanical Pulping of Bacteria Pre-Treatment on Oil Palm Biomass for Handsheet Production”[1] . For understanding correlations into the difference among lignocellulose content composition which affect the handsheet formation and me- chanical strength refer to article from this research [1] . This dataset is made publicly available for optimizing alternative waste material reuse in the pulp and paper industrial section

Potential of cogon grass (imperata cylindrica) as an alternative fibre in paper-based industry

Non-wood plants were examined as alternative fibre due to the limited origin resources in paper production. In Malaysia, Imperata cylindrica was used as renewable materials to obtain cellulosic pulps to produce paper and hence preventing the environmental problems. The chemical compositions, fibre dimension, pulp and mechanical properties of I. cylindrica were investigated for application in paper-based production. The surface morphology of hand sheet was also visualized. The chemical compositions involved in this study (holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash, hot water and 1% NaOH solubilities) were determined according to the chlorite method, Kurscher-Hoffner approach and TAPPI test method. Meanwhile, fibre dimension were measured following the Franklin method. The mechanical properties of the hand sheet (tensile, burst and tear indices) were measured according to the TAPPI test method. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the surface morphology of I. cylindrica hand sheet. The I. cylindrica has lower amount of lignin (5.67%), hot water (3.83%) and 1% sodium hydroxide solubilities (19.6%) than polished C.tataria, switch grass and Palmyra palm fruit. Although I. cylindrica contains high felting rate (139), the sheets produced showed higher tensile index (45.06 Nm/g), burst index (3.90 kPam2 /g) and tear index (2.17 mNm2 /g) compared to other published non-wood fibers. From SEM images, sheets of I. cylindrica contained abundant, straight and smooth fibre. In conclusion of the characteristic study, I. cylindrica is a good potential alternative fibre in the paper-based industry

Potential of cogon grass (imperata cylindrica) as an alternative fibre in paper-based industry

Non-wood plants were examined as alternative fibre due to the limited origin resources in paper production. In Malaysia, Imperata cylindrica was used as renewable materials to obtain cellulosic pulps to produce paper and hence preventing the environmental problems. The chemical compositions, fibre dimension, pulp and mechanical properties of I. cylindrica were investigated for application in paper-based production. The surface morphology of hand sheet was also visualized. The chemical compositions involved in this study (holocellulose, cellulose, lignin, ash, hot water and 1% NaOH solubilities) were determined according to the chlorite method, Kurscher-Hoffner approach and TAPPI test method. Meanwhile, fibre dimension were measured following the Franklin method. The mechanical properties of the hand sheet (tensile, burst and tear indices) were measured according to the TAPPI test method. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to visualize the surface morphology of I. cylindrica hand sheet. The I. cylindrica has lower amount of lignin (5.67%), hot water (3.83%) and 1% sodium hydroxide solubilities (19.6%) than polished C.tataria, switch grass and Palmyra palm fruit. Although I. cylindrica contains high felting rate (139), the sheets produced showed higher tensile index (45.06 Nm/g), burst index (3.90 kPam2 /g) and tear index (2.17 mNm2 /g) compared to other published non-wood fibers. From SEM images, sheets of I. cylindrica contained abundant, straight and smooth fibre. In conclusion of the characteristic study, I. cylindrica is a good potential alternative fibre in the paper-based industry