Paper and Corrugated Boxes from Cotton Plant Stalks for Effective Packaging of Oranges

摘要

Cotton plant stalk an abundantly available agro-waste material was successfully tried out as a substitute for wood in the manufacture of corrugated fibre board boxes for packaging of fruits. A process was standardised to prepare good quality kraft paper from Cotton plant stalks. The process was worked out by conducting large-scale trial in a paper mill. Corrugation trials were successfully conducted on the kraft paper prepared. The corrugated boxes of desired size and designs were prepared and evaluated for various properties. Suitability of these boxes for packaging of fruits like oranges was assessed through simulated laboratory as well as actual transportation trials. Details of the laboratory and the mill trials, simulated and actual packaging and transportation trials with oranges are presented and discussed in this paper. Results indicated that good quality kraft paper suitable for manufacture of CFB boxes can be prepared from cotton plant stalks. Uniform chipping of stalks and kraft liquor concentration of 18 per cent produced kraft paper with desired properties. The techno-economic feasibility worked out by conducting large-scale trial in a mill indicated that the box prepared from cotton plant stalk kraft would be cheaper than that of commercially available box. Corrugated boxes were lighter in weight than wooden boxes and hence more CFB boxes could be transported thus reducing freight per box. CFB boxes prepared from cotton plant stalk kraft paper possessed desirable bursting and compressive strength. Lamination of CPS box with polypropylene film from outer side further improved strength and ability of these boxes to withstand moisture during prolonged cool storage under high humidity conditions. Results of the simulated and actual packaging and transportation trials demonstrated suitability of corrugated fibre board boxes for packaging, transportation and storage of Nagpur-mandarin oranges.