Anatomical and chemical characterization of Alstonia boonei for pulp and paper production

Afrifah, Kojo Agyapong (author), Adjei-Mensah, Enoch (author)

Alstonia boonei, an abundant lesser utilized species within the West African Subregion, was evaluated as an alternative raw material for pulp and paper production. The basic density (BD), fibre characteristics [fibre length (FL), fibre diameter (FD), lumen diameter (LD) and wall thickness (WT)], derived anatomical indices [Flexibility Ratio (FR), Slenderness Ratio (SR), Rigidity Coefficient (RC), Luce’s Shape Factor (LSF), Solids Factor (SF) and Runkel Ratio (RR)] and chemical composition (lignin, holocellulose, 1% NaOH solubility and ash contents) of A. boonei were studied to evaluate variation along the trunk (base, middle and top portions) and ascertain its suitability for pulp and paper production. Significant variations were observed in the density and fibre characteristics along the trunk of the tree. Although the FD was large, the observed adequate FL, thin-wall and large LD implied easy beating of fibres and manufacture of dense, smooth and strong papers. The favourable SF, RR, FR, RC, and LSF values obtained for the fibres would produce papers with suitable burst and tearing strengths and folding endurance. Chemically the lower lignin (< 30%), ash and 1% NaOH solubility and the high holocellulose contents of A. boonei, will generate a higher pulp yield. A. boonei although a low-density species, will be desirable for pulp and paper production

• Language: English
• Keywords: Alstonia boonei, fibre, wood, characteristics, lesser utilized species, pulp, paper
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Publication date: 01.01.2021
• Year: 2021
• Number of pages: Str. 5-18
• Numbering: Letn. 70, št. 2
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-168810
• UDC: 630*811.1:813.1:176.1 Alstonia boonei
• ISSN on article: 0024-1067
• DOI: 10.26614/les-wood.2021.v70n02a02
• COBISS.SI-ID: 91638275
• Publication date in RUL: 25.04.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Les
• Shortened title: Les
• Publisher: Zveza društev inženirjev in tehnikov gozdarstva in lesarstva Slovenije, Zveza društev inženirjev in tehnikov gozdarstva in lesarstva Slovenije, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo, Založba Univerze, Biotehniška fakulteta, Oddelek za lesarstvo, Založba Univerze
• ISSN: 0024-1067
• COBISS.SI-ID: 13940224

Licences

• License: CC BY-NC 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/
• Description: A creative commons license that bans commercial use, but the users don’t have to license their derivative works on the same terms.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Anatomske in kemijske lastnosti lesa vrste Alstonia boonei za proizvodnjo celuloze in papirja

Abstract

Predstavljamo oceno primernosti lesa vrste alstonija (Alstonia boonei) kot alternativnega vira za proizvodnjo celuloze in papirja. Vrsta je pogosta v zahodni Afriki, a je manj uporabljana. Proučili smo osnovno gostoto lesa (BD), značilnosti vlaken [dolžino vlaken (FL), premer vlaken (FD), premer lumna (LD) in debelino celične stene (WT)], anatomske indekse [prožnost (FR), vitkost (SR), koeficient togosti (RC), Luceov faktor oblike (LSF), stopnjo masivnosti (lesnatosti) vlaken (SF), Runklovo razmerje (RR)] in kemično sestavo ter lastnosti (vsebnost lignina in holoceluloze, topnost v 1 % NaOH in vsebnost pepela). Ocenili smo njihovo varibilnost vzdolž debla (spodnji, srednji in zgornji del) in ugotovili primernost lesa za proizvodnjo celuloze in papirja. Ugotovljene so bile znatne razlike v gostoti lesa in lastnostih vlaken vzdolž debla. Čeprav je bil premer vlaken velik, dolžina vlaken, tankost sten in veliki premeri lumnov omogočajo primerno formacijo vlaken ter izdelavo gostega, gladkega in močnega papirja. Ugodne vrednosti SF, RR, FR, RC in LSF vlaken bi omogočile izdelavo papirja z ustrezno odpornostjo proti trganju ter prepogibno stabilnostjo. Kemijsko gledano nižja vsebnost lignina (< 30 %), pepela in 1 % topnost v NaOH ter visoka vsebnost holoceluloze v vlaknih A. boonei omogočajo večji izkoristek pri izdelavi celulozne kaše (pulpe). Čeprav je A. boonei lesna vrsta z nizko gostoto, bi bila primerna za proizvodnjo celuloze in papirja

• Keywords: les, značilnosti vlaken, manj uporabljana lesna vrsta, celuloza, papir