Mechanical pulping for manufacture of hand made paper from Date-Palm leaves (Phoenix dactylifera - L)

Abstract

The present paper highlights the production of pulp from agro-residues by mechanical pulping for the benefit of Indian paper industry. Date-Palm leaf (DPL), a renewable agro-residue is an excellent raw material for making pulp and paper of different grades due to high alpha cellulose (50-58%) and hemi cellulose contents (26-32%). These constituents play a stellar role in mechanical pulping i.e. in beating operation without using any chemical. Ultimate fibre length (1.25 mm to 2.50 mm) is also higher than fibres of other agro-residues, recycled cotton rag and paper. Yield and mechanical properties of the pulp of 100% DPL fibre obtained by mechanical pulping process attained higher values as compared to its blends with recycled cotton rag. Chemo-mechanical process is costly and not environment friendly. Moreover, yield and mechanical properties of the paper obtained in this process are poor. Hemi cellulose (more than 25%) and non-cellulosic polysaccharide which exist in cell wall of fibres contribute to efficient beating operation and fibre bonding. Hemi cellulose also contributes largely towards higher burst index, tensile index and folding endurance to the pulp sheet specially produced without using any chemical in the entire process.