Abstract
Increasing concerns for future fiber supplies in pulp and paper industries has shifted interest in nonwood sources from agriculture residues and aquatic plants. Aquatic plants with short growth cycles, in abundance, and with low lignin are a potential fiber source. Five aquatic plant species,Cyperus digitatus, Cyperus halpan, Cyperus rotundus, Scirpus grossus, andTypha angustifolia, were examined for fiber dimensions and chemical composition (cellulose, lignin) and compared with other nonwood plants. All aquatic plants possessed short (length, 0.71–0.83 mm) and thin (diameter, 9.13–12.11 µm) fibers, narrow lumen (diameter, 4.32–7.30 µm), and thin cell wall (thickness, 2.25–2.83 µm) compared with most other nonwood plants. Slenderness ratio ranged from 73.77 to 89.34 withTypha angustifoliahaving the highest ratio. Except forScirpus grossus, the flexibility coefficient ranged from 52.91 to 58.08.Scirpus grossushas low Runkel ratio, 0.84 ± 0.17. Fiber characteristics, short and thin fibers, Slenderness ratio >60, flexibility coefficient within 50–75, and Runkel ratio <1, are suitable for papermaking. Cellulose content ofCyperus rotundus(42.58 ± 1.32%),Scirpus grossus(36.21 ± 2.81%), andTypha angustifolia(44.05 ± 0.49%) >34% is suitable for pulp and papermaking. Lignin content in aquatic plants in the present study ranged 9.54–20.04% and below the wood lignin content of <23–30% encountered in pulp and papermaking. Handmade paper sheets produced for paperboard, craft, and decorative purposes are with permissible tensile strength, breaking length, and low moisture content.
Highlights
Population growth, better literacy, and development of communication and industrialization in developing countries increase worldwide paper products demand continuously [1]
Fresh stems were dried for determination of chemical composition and papermaking as described in detail below
Stems of aquatic plant were chopped into small pieces of 1 to 3 cm in length using a knife
Summary
Population growth, better literacy, and development of communication and industrialization in developing countries increase worldwide paper products demand continuously [1]. In 2005, 17.4 million metric tons (9.27%) of nonwood fibers from 187.6 million metric tons global production of virgin pulp for paper and paperboard are produced [2]. Quantities of available wood are insufficient to meet the requirements and demands of pulp and paper especially in Mediterranean countries like Spain, Italy, and Greece [3,4,5]. In Malaysia, over one million tons of papers were produced in 2005 [6]. This would mean that more tropical trees need to be felled to sustain papermaking industry to meet the paper requirement and demand. Some alternatives have been used to replace the wood fiber with nonwood derived fibers [1] from agriculture residues such as wheat and rice straw, sorghum stalks, jute, and hemp for paper production [7, 8]
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