PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL FEATURES OF SOME AGRICULTURAL RESIDUES AND GRASSES AS ALTERNATIVE TO PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTION

• D. O. Ekhuemelo

  Department of Forest Production and Products, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

  Author

The growing concern about the rising cost and diminishing supply of wood fibre has created a renewed interest in adopting alternative fibre sources in the manufacture of paper and paper products. This study investigated the suitability of selected agricultural residues (Sorghum bicolor, Panicum miliaceum, Abelmoschus esculentus and Hibiscus sabdariffa) and grass fibres (Oryza longistaminata and Hyparrhenia involucrata) obtained from the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Nigeria. Fibre dimensions of samples were determined by reducing samples into chips and placed into an equal volume of glacial acetic acid and Hydrogen peroxide in ratio 1:1. Macerated fibres were mounted on a slide in Reichert Visopan Microscope to determine fibre physical features. Proximate chemical analysis was done using Tappi Standard Method. Results show that Hyparrhenia involucrata had the longest fibre length of 2.23 mm while Oryza longistaminata had the least (0.24 mm). Abelmoschus esculentus had the least runkel ratio of 0.50 followed by Sorghum bicolor (0.73), Hibiscus sabdariffa and Panicum miliaceumwith 0.78, respectively. While Felting rate, Elasticity coefficient, Rigidity coefficient, and F ratio ranged from 134.76 - 24.76, 66.57% - 45.88%, 27.06% - 16.71%, and 51,111.27% - 9,211.07%, respectively. Results of chemical analysis shows that ash content, Hot water solubility, Ethanol Toluene solution, Cold water solution, lignin, Hemicellulose, Alkali, and Cellulose ranged from 3.86 % - 11.00 %, 0.58 % - 7.21%, 1.11 % - 22.30%, 0.46% - 12.06%, 5.86% - 25.90%, 15.70% - 57.43%, 3.01% - 23.22%, and 14.32% - 68.21%. The outcome of the study indicated that agricultural residues and grasses are propitious fibrous raw material for the paper production.

1. D. O. Ekhuemelo, Department of Forest Production and Products, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

   Department of Forest Production and Products, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P.M.B. 2373, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

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