Papermaking pulps from the fibrous fraction of Miscanthus x Giganteus

Abstract

The use of non-wood raw material could be an effective mean of backing up worldwide wood supply, especially in countries with insufficient forest resources. An example of such non-wood plants is miscanthus ( Miscanthus spp.), a crop adapted to European growing conditions and that has been extensively investigated as an important source of biomass for energy production, for building materials, geotextiles and substrates in nurseries and greenhouses. This crop is also considered a possible raw material for the paper industry. In Italy, miscanthus biomass productivity ranges from 15 t ha −1 per year to 20–30 t ha −1 per year. In the present study, the possibility of utilising miscanthus fibres, as a reinforcing material in paper furnishes based on recycled fibres, was investigated. In order to transform a heterogeneous material into several concentrated and uniform fractions, miscanthus stalks prior to pulping underwent a mechanical cleaning and separation treatment in dry conditions. Two high yield pulping processes (CTMP and TMP) were applied only to the fibrous fraction. Subsequently, the miscanthus pulps were mixed, at different ratio, with wastepaper (old newspapers). Results show that miscanthus pulps, especially CTMP, are suitable to reinforce recycled fibres and to improve the mechanical characteristics of papers containing secondary fibres.