Pulpability of SAP Stained Vascular Bundles of Elaeis Guinensisfrond (OPFB) for Paper Production

This research finding was aimed at determining the pulp and paper potential of sap stained oil palm fronds rachis vascular bundles (OPFB) using an ecofriendly alkaline peroxide pulping. Alkaline peroxide pulping (APP), which combines both pulping and brightening actions into a single process, was attempted on sap stained oil palm frond rachis vascular bundles (OPFB). After the maceration of the raw samples, a total of two hundred fibres were randomly examined under light microscope and the mean values of their morphological dimensions were recorded. The obtained data was utilized to calculate the felting rate, flexibility coefficient, Rigidity coefficient, Runkel index and rigidity index. The effects of these properties on paper strength were equally evaluated. The mean fibre length values obtained was 1.30mmfor OPFB while the mean fibre diameter of the biomass was 17.62µm. and the Runkel ratio for OPFB was 0.48. The chemical composition determinations were carried out in five times replicate while the mean was determined using the SPSS statistical package. The result of the chemical analysis of the raw plant materials revealed high α-cellulose content of 66.17% and a low Klason lignin content of 19.1% compared to those of some hardwoods and softwoods. The mycological examination of the sap stain microorganism confirmed it as Aspergilliusflavus which was successfully removed at the early stage of pulping. Base on the investigation of the fibre properties and chemical composition of this sap stained oil palm frond rachis with respect to its suitability or otherwise as the fibrous raw materials for pulp production, pulping of the biomass was carried out and characterized. The results of this research finding indicate that the anatomical properties of the biomass compared favourably with soft and hard wood globally used for pulp and paper.