Waranyou Sridach

pp. 201 - 205

Abstract

Palmyra palm fruit fibers have the properties to be used as an alternative raw material of cellulosic pulps for papermaking. Acid and alkali pulping were investigated by using nitric acid and caustic soda on a laboratory scale, with the
purpose of producing printing or writing grade pulp. The chemical composition of fiber strands from palmyra palm fruits
were examined, such as holocellulose, cellulose, pentosan, lignin and extractives. The yields of acid and soda pulps were
below 40%. The main physical and mechanical properties of hand sheets produced from acid and soda processes were
evaluated on 80 g/m²
 test sheets as functions of the following parameters: tensile index, tear index, and brightness. The
mechanical properties of soda pulps were developed by twin-roll press while it was not necessary to fibrillate acidic pulps
through the beating step. The soda pulp sheets presented a lower brightness than that of acidic pulp sheets. The mechanical
and physical properties of the acidic and alkaline pulps verified that they were of an acceptable quality for papermaking.