EFFECTS OF ALKALINE PEROXIDE PERCENTAGES ON HAND SHEET MADE FROM ALKALINE PEROXIDE PULP OF OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES

摘要

The oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), which is known as a potential by-crop product for producing high quality pulp, was subjected to alkaline peroxide pulping (APP) process. Results from APP of 500um EFB particles showed significant changes in the biomass composition. Reduction of 57.5% extractives, 26.4% lignin and an increment of 18.3% ash compared to untreated particles made it possible for formation of APP improved pulp network. With the said changes, the produced pulp was able to form network of 1341.3 folding endurance, 57.8 zero span index, 35.3 tensile index and 7.5 burst index, by applying 4:5% (wt/wt) alkali-to-peroxide ratio. This indicates an overall better result compared to hand sheet prepared from EFB with 2:2.5% and 10:11% (wt/wt) alkali-to-peroxide ratio, consistent with SEM analysis of the fibre bonding network.