Journal of Korea TAPPI ISSN:0253-3200(Print) 펄프종이기술

In this study, we investigated the physical properties of kraft pulps made from rice husk, peanut husk and garlic stems. These agricultural byproducts were collected individually, and then various pulps were manufactured from them by controlling active alkali, sulfidity, reaction time and the liquor ratio in the kraft pulping process in order to analyze the applicability of these agricultural byproducts as raw materials for kraft pulps. After kraft pulping, we measured yield, flake content, fiber length, fiber width and freeness of pulps, and the fiber shapes of the pulps were observed by using an optical microscope.

When the higher active alkali, longer reaction time and lower liquor ratio were applied in kraft pulping process, reject content decreased and fiber yield increased. The pulp from garlic stems had the longest fiber length and that from rice husk showed the highest intial freeness. All of the pulps from agricultural byproducts showed higher initial freeness, shorter fiber length and the similar fiber width compared to OCC, BCTMP and hardwood BKP. The fibers of the pulps made from agricultural byproducts showed a similar shape to those of commercial pulps. It was concluded that these agricultural byproducts had a potential as raw materials to produce an alternative pulp to the commercial pulps.