Assessing the suitability of Ficus sur and Cola gigantea as raw material for pulp and paper production in Ghana

摘要

The efficient utilization of the Lesser Used timber species is of utmost importance in the sustainable management of tropical forest in Ghana. Cola gigantea and Ficus sur are two lesser utilized timber species which are available in the forest estate of Ghana. Pulp and paper production is one of the essential wood industries contributing immensely to the world economies in pulp and paper producing countries. These species could be used as material for pulp and paper if the properties are established. In this study the anatomical properties of Cola gigantea and Ficus sur were determined to ascertain their suitability for pulp and paper production. Five naturally-grown matured trees each of Cola gigantea and Ficus sur were selected from Pra-Anum Forest Reserve in the moist semideciduous (–South-east type) forest zone of Ghana. Results indicated that, the ground tissue (vessels: parenchyma: fibres) proportions for the species were 8%:43%: 49% and 9%: 47%:44% for C. gigantea and F. sur respectively. The mean fibre length, lumen diameter and double wall thickness for the species were 2.0mm, 14.8μm, 9.9μm and 1.5mm, 23.9μm 7.5μm for C. gigantea and F. sur respectively. Ficus sur can be used to produce sheets with higher tensile strength, burst index and fold endurance whilst Cola gigantea can be used for sheets with high tear index. Therefore, both Ficus sur and Cola gigantea can be used as a suitable raw material for pulp and paper production in Ghana if their pulping characteristics proved suitable.