Abstract
Reduced prices and increased production costs are leading Arizona cotton growers to look for alternative, lowwater use crops. The University of Arizona has investigated Hesperaloe funifera and Hesperaloe nocturna as two potentialcrops that produce high quality fibers for use in specialty paper products. After cutting, and prior to shipping, the leaves mustbe dried to prevent mold, which reduces fiber quantity and quality. Decortication, the separation of the fiber from the fleshycomponents of the leaves, is used with other crops for fiber separation and to facilitate drying, so this process was consideredapplicable to Hesperaloe. Three systems were evaluated, including a twin roller system that recovered the most fiber andwhich is projected to require the least maintenance and have the lowest energy requirement. Commercial viability of the twinroller system was demonstrated by processing four tonnes of leaves, which after air drying were sent to a commercial pulpingfacility.
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