Effect of Tree Age and Active Alkali on Kraft Pulping of White Jabon

Abstract

White Jabon (Anthocephalus cadamba Miq.) is one of the fast growing species in Indonesia and has the potential as the raw material for pulp and paper. In this research, 3, 5, and 7 years old White Jabon woods were pulped under different active alkali charge of 15%, 18%, 21%, 24%, and 27%, and its effect on delignification degree, kappa number, pulp yield, pulp viscosity, brightness, unbeaten freeness, and delignification selectivity was investigated. The results showed that tree age and active alkali concentration influenced the quality of pulp and pulping properties, except for that of unbeaten freeness. Delignification degree increased with increasing active alkali charge, and this brought about the decrease of pulp kappa number. The pulping yield tended to decrease below the Klason lignin of approximately 4%. Even though the 3 years old wood resulted in the highest brightness and highest delignification selectivity, the highest pulp viscosity was obtained with the 5 years old wood. The dominant fiber length of all wood ages was in the range of 1.2 - 2.0 mm. The 3 years old wood was considered to be the most promising raw material for kraft pulping in the view point of pulping properties, pulp quality and harvesting rotation.