Pulp and Paper Properties of Jenitri Wood (Elaeocarpus ganitrus)

Abstract

Jenitri trees are widely distributed in community forests on Java Island and their wood is utilized for various products. The objective of the study was to assess the basic properties and quality of pulp and paper from jenitri wood. The tree was felled at the age of 5, and the base part was taken. Chips were processed using three different pulping methods in soda (17% NaOH), kraft (17% NaOH and 25% sulfidity), and neutral sulfite semi-chemical (NSSC) (12% Na2SO3 and 3% Na2CO3) processes. The fibers of jenitri had good derived values (slenderness, Runkel, and flexibility ratios) as well as chemical properties. The screened yields from the soda, kraft, and NSSC processes were 35.60 ± 4.75%, 35.05 ± 3.83%, and 46.29 ± 2.59%, respectively. The kappa numbers from the soda, kraft, and NSSC processes were 28.02 ± 7.35, 21.15 ± 1.61, and 71.28 ± 6.86, respectively. The handsheets had a burst index value of 0.65–2.94 kPa.m2/g, a tear index value of 5.23–5.47 mN.m2/g, a tensile index value of 15.13–30.49 Nm/g, a brightness value of 24.39–45.25%, and an opacity value of 98.83–99.68%. The soda pulp and the kraft pulp had slight differences in all parameters except for the Kappa number. The NSSC pulp showed slight differences in the selectivity of delignification ratio, tear index, and opacity, but produced a higher brightness level compared to chemical pulpings. The values of burst and tear indices for kraft pulp paper met the Indonesian National Standard for leaf bleached kraft pulp.