Influences of the operating variables of acetosolv pulping on pulp properties of oil palm frond fibres

The effect of acetosolv pulping variables viz. pulping time, temperature, catalyst (HCl) and acetic acid on oil palm frond fibres was investigated. The following conditions were found to be optimum to pulp frond fibres: 140 ºC, 0.5% HCl, 75% acetic acid, and 1/10 solid/liquor ratio. Under these conditions we could obtain these properties: Kappa number 13-16, zero-span tensile breaking length – 83 km, sheet density – 0.57 g cm-3, tensile index – 48 N m g-1, tear index – 5.4 mN m2 g-1, brightness – 16% ISO and opacity – 98%. Higher values of these operating parameters would degrade the fibre characteristics such as zero-span tensile breaking length, tensile index, and sheet density

Influences of the operating variables of acetosolv pulping on pulp properties of oil palm frond fibres

The effect of acetosolv pulping variables viz. pulping time, temperature, catalyst (HCl) and aceticacid on oil palm frond fibres was investigated. The following conditions were found to be optimum topulp frond fibres: 140 ºC, 0.5% HCl, 75% acetic acid, and 1/10 solid/liquor ratio. Under these conditionswe could obtain these properties: Kappa number 13-16, zero-span tensile breaking length � 83 km, sheetdensity � 0.57 g cm-3, tensile index � 48 N m g-1, tear index � 5.4 mN m2 g-1, brightness � 16% ISO andopacity � 98%. Higher values of these operating parameters would degrade the fibre characteristicssuch as zero-span tensile breaking length, tensile index, and sheet density

Influences of the operating variables of acetosolv pulping on pulp properties of oil palm frond fibres

The effect of acetosolv pulping variables viz. pulping time, temperature, catalyst (HCl) and acetic acid on oil palm frond fibres was investigated. The following conditions were found to be optimum to pulp frond fibres: 140 ºC, 0.5% HCl, 75% acetic acid, and 1/10 solid/liquor ratio. Under these conditions we could obtain these properties: Kappa number 13-16, zero-span tensile breaking length - 83 km, sheet density - 0.57 g cm-3, tensile index - 48 N m g-1, tear index - 5.4 mN m² g-1, brightness - 16% ISO and opacity - 98%. Higher values of these operating parameters would degrade the fibre characteristics such as zero-span tensile breaking length, tensile index, and sheet density

Preparation and characterization of nanocomposite films from oil palm pulp nanocellulose / poly (Vinyl alcohol) by casting method

TEMPO-oxidize nanocellulose (TONC) suspension has been obtained from total chlorine free (TCF) oil palm empty-fruit-bunches (OPEFB) pulp using 4-acetamido-TEMPO (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl piperidin-1-oxyl) mediated oxidation with sodium hypochlorite and sodium bromide in water at 25 °C and pH 10. TONC suspension with varied content from 0.5 to 6% (w/w) reinforced polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer based nanocomposite films were prepared by the casting method. The structural interaction between the TONC and PVA was characterized by the Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the 4% (w/w) TONC content reinforced nanocomposite exhibited the highest tensile strength and modulus with an increase of 122% and 291% respectively, compared to PVA while the elongation at break decreased about 42.7%. Thermal stability of PVA based nanocomposite films was improved after incorporation of TONC. Incorporation of TONC in PVA film increases its crystallinity due to strongly linking between the hydroxyl groups of materials however considerable decreases beyond 2 wt% loading are observed. TONC incorporation beyond 2 wt% also reduces the melting temperature peaks and enthalpy of nanocomposite films. FT-IR spectra, NMR and SEM indicate that there is interaction between the TONC and PVA

Influences of the operating variables of acetosolv pulping on pulp properties of oil palm frond fibres

The effect of acetosolv pulping variables viz. pulping time, temperature, catalyst (HCl) and acetic acid on oil palm frond fibres was investigated. The following conditions were found to be optimum to pulp frond fibres: 140 ºC, 0.5% HCl, 75% acetic acid, and 1/10 solid/liquor ratio. Under these conditions we could obtain these properties: Kappa number 13-16, zero-span tensile breaking length - 83 km, sheet density - 0.57 g cm-3, tensile index - 48 N m g-1, tear index - 5.4 mN m² g-1, brightness - 16% ISO and opacity - 98%. Higher values of these operating parameters would degrade the fibre characteristics such as zero-span tensile breaking length, tensile index, and sheet density

POTENTIAL OF FINES AS REINFORCING FIBRES IN ALKALINE PEROXIDE PULP OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH

Pulp from the alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping (APMP) of oil palm empty fruit bunch, EFB, was fractionated with varying mesh-size screens to examine the effects imposed by size-specific fines on the produced pulp network. Occurring mainly as a result of refining, fines elements with dimensions almost resembling EFB fibres were the long tube-like tapered vessels from the arrays of adjoined cell walls detached along the perforation lines. These fibrillated vessel elements constituting the P250/R300 fines fraction improved pulp network strength by gluing onto multiple fibres. More profound strength enhancement was promoted by the segments of the fibrillated vessel elements constituted in the P300/R400 fines fraction. With reduced dimensions, these elements enhanced pulp network strength by filling the micro-voids in the pulp network. By eliminating gaps that would otherwise interrupt inter-fiber bonding, 12% P300/R400 fines fraction enhanced the EFB APMP pulp network tensile strength by 100%

Effect of Alkaline Peroxide Pre-treatment on Microfibrillated Cellulose from Oil Palm Fronds Rachis Amenable for Pulp and Paper and Bio-composite Production

Effects of alkaline peroxide (AP) pre-treatment were investigated with respect to the extracted cellulose fibres from the vascular bundles of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) fronds (OPF) rachis at different AP concentrations. The extracted fibres were prepared through the mechanical fibrillation resulting from the AP pre-treatment concentrations of the rachis. The cellulose fibres obtained were characterized using microscopic (SEM), spectroscopic (FTIR), thermal (TGA-DTG), and X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. The screen pulp yield was between 38.07% and 42.69%, which increased with the increase in the AP concentrations. The SEM showed a significant separation of the fibres after the AP pretreatment. FTIR spectroscopy and TGA showed significant dissolution of both lignin and hemicellulose molecules from the treated biomass at higher alkaline peroxide concentrations. The thermal stability of the extracted fibres ranged from 366 oC to 392 oC while the XRD results showed that the cellulose fibre extracted at H2O2/NaOH ratio of 2.5%: 2.0%,w/v AP concentrations gave the highest percentage crystallinity (35.7%). The handsheet made from the cellulose fibre showed that tensile, burst, and tear indexes increased with an increase in AP concentration. Duncan Multiple Range Test shows that mild alkaline peroxide pretreatment (medium concentrations) is best favoured for paper making pulp and bio-composite production