Abstract
ABSTRACT Sugarcane bagasse, a waste material generated by the sugar-alcohol industry, is rich in lignocellulosic components such as cellulose and hemicellulose. The bagasse can be employed as a raw material in the pulp and paper industry, but is currently rarely used for this purpose, due to the availability of traditional sources such as Eucalyptus and Pinus. The objective of this work was to compare the physical and mechanical properties of papers produced using the cellulose extracted from sugarcane, Eucalyptus, and Pinus by the Kraft method. Four paper samples were produced using cellulose obtained from the following fiber sources: (I) 100% sugarcane bagasse; (II) 100% Eucalyptus; (III) 75% Eucalyptus + 25% Pinus; (IV) 75% sugarcane bagasse + 25% Pinus. Physical and mechanical tests were performed based on regulatory methodologies of the paper industry. The results indicated that the physical and mechanical characteristics of the paper produced from the sugarcane cellulose were similar to those of the traditional paper produced using Eucalyptus. Particular features such as good tearing resistance and tensile strength, as well as increased porosity and moisture, could be adjusted according to the intended use of the paper. Therefore, sugarcane bagasse can be considered a sustainable alternative to Eucalyptus and Pinus for the production of high quality paper, adding value to this agricultural residue.
Highlights
The production of pulp and paper is of global importance, due to the high demand for these materials by society
The paper sheets were prepared in accordance with the Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT - NBR ISO) guideline 5269-1 (ABNT, 2006a)
The findings showed that the paper composed only of Eucalyptus fibers was the least porous, while mixing these fibers with those of Pinus, at a ratio of 3:1, resulted in porosity similar to that for the paper composed only of sugarcane bagasse fibers
Summary
The production of pulp and paper is of global importance, due to the high demand for these materials by society. In Brazil, the cellulose used for paper production is mainly obtained from the two plant species Eucalyptus and Pinus, depending on the desired characteristics of the final product (Miranda, 2008). The cellulose extracted from Eucalyptus (a hardwood tree) is classified as having short fibers and accounts for 85% of the cellulose produced in Brazil (IBÁ, 2016). The properties of this type of cellulose are highly suitable for the manufacture of printing and writing paper, personal hygiene tissue, labels, and coating bases
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