Investigation of organic composition of potential plants as alternative fiber in paper making industry

Malaysia was known as a country that rich with a source of agro waste material. Three different crops had been studied which include the pineapple (Ananas Comosus) leaf, corn (Zea mays) stalk and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). Those crops were characterized as agro waste material in Malaysia and have a high potential to become an alternative fiber. The objective of this work was to analysis the chemical composition which are pineapple leaf, corn stalk and Napier grass; to investigate the properties of hand sheet made from those crops; to determine the influence of different pulping process and process variables on the physical and chemical properties. Every chemical components analyse; Cellulose, Hemicellulose, Ash and Lignin content by TAPPI Test Method. All of three samples were undergo acidic and alkali pulping process. Fiber Analyser was used for fiber analysis and SEM use for observation on sample. From pulping process, the step will continue for papermaking. Lastly, tensile, bursting, folding, and tearing tester machine will test paper production. Result shows that pineapple leaf gives high cellulose content (66.2%) and lower lignin content (4.2%) compared corn stalk and napier grass. Alkaline pulping shows a quality of pulp rather than acidic pulping process due to the pulp strength and colour of fiber. Corn stalk gives a high potential to be an alternative for mechanical properties viewed. High tensile index (90.99 Nm/g), burst 2 index (6.64 kPa*m /g) and fold index (3.51 Nm) by corn stalk paper rather than pineapple leaf and napier grass but lower in tear index (2.85 Nm /g). This wass due to the long fiber length by pineapple leaf about 13.36 mm from SEM images. This arrangement form and effect a structure of fiber. Based on all tests, corn stalk materials have high potential to be fiber substitution but pineapple leaf and napier grass have their own characteristic to be alternative fiber. This research also promote green technology where one of the solid waste material technology for waste from agricultural residue.

Oil Palm Leaf and Corn Stalk – Mechanical Properties and Surface Characterization

AbstractAgro waste can be defined as waste from agricultural plant. Oil palm leaf and corn stalk can be categorized as ago waste material. At first, the comparison between oil palm leaf and corn stalk by mechanical properties from soda pulping process. After that, this study focusing on surface characterization by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Both materials have a potential due to the mechanical properties (tensile, tear, burst and fold) and surface characterization but corn stalk shows more in strength and compactness due to fibre characterization compared to oil palm leaf. This study promoting the green technology in developing a friendly product and suitable to be used as an alternative pulp in paper making industry

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

Soda Anthraquinone (Soda AQ) and Bio-chemical pulping process on napier grass for papermaking industry

Nowadays, our nature sources become decrease where effect to paper industry. Thus, use of non wood (Napier grass) as a base material by an additive should became an alternative fibre for papermaking industry. The aim of this study to analyse the chemical composition of Napier grass; to determine the effects of different optimization pulping process on the pulpability and mechanical properties; to determine the surface characterization of paper by different pulping process. Napier grass sample would be undergoing of different pulping process (Soda-AQ pulping, Bio-chemical and combination pulping). The chemical properties involved in this study were determined according to relevant TAPPI test, Kurscher–Hoffner and Chlorination methods. Meanwhile, fibre dimension and pulp properties were measured after the pulping process. The mechanical strength of handsheet produced (tensile, burst, tear and fold) was investigated according to the TAPPI test method. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) was used to determine the morphological characteristic of the Napier grass paper. Results show high cellulose (60.2%); 1% NaOH solubility (52.0%) and lower of lignin (10.7%); ash (14.1%) and hemicellulose (23.8%) contents of Napier grass. The best optimum condition from pulpability and mechanical analysis were 16% concentration of alkali charge, 160 0C of temperature. Optimization pulping combination both dosage made a remarkable of high pulp yield produce (38.88%), low rejected pulp (5.2%), by a lower kappa index number (13.42%) and short fibre length (8.2%) from pulpability and mechanical properties for tearing strength, 5.58 Nm2/g; high folding endurances, 987 Nm; high burst strength, 358.2 kPa*m2/g; and higher of tensile strength, 5.11 Nm/g compared to single additives. Fibre structure image from combination dosage by SEM had completely different with a treatment by anthraquinone and xylanase enzyme act as a factor which lead a highly strong fibre to produce a good paper from non-wood materials to be compete with a wood-base paper for industry. Napier grass by the additional of additives from anthraquinone and xylanase enzyme could makes a confirmation for this agriculture plant to be an alternative fibre for pulp and papermaking industry for future

Studies on physical and mechanical properties by Soda-AQ pulping of napier grass

Pulp and paper production from wood material as their main resources have a total capacity about more than one million tons per year. Malaysia has a high scale of deforestation based on the main resource for pulp and paper-based industry. Malaysia as its rate is accelerating faster than any other tropical countries in the world. This problem also affects the economic losses of some countries that face deforestation. To overcome this, Napier grass as a substitute material from non-wood material had been choose for pulp and papermaking industry. This study through the full fibre analysis and morphological characterization, pulpability at kappa number via soda-AQ pulping and the characteristic. These conclude that Napier grass had a high percentage of pulp yields; with a low screening rejects; good mechanical properties by TAPPI method. Thus, Napier grass has a potential to be substitute material for becoming waste-wealth product especially for Malaysia’s pulp and papermaking industry