Ceibapentandra (L.) Gaertn (Kapok) Seed Fibre as a Recycled Paper Reinforcement Pulp

• Published in: Waste and biomass valorization Vol. 12; no. 9; pp. 5175 - 5186
• Main Authors: Leh, Cheu Peng, Lamaming, Junidah, Tan, Wen Ping, Goh, Choon Fu, Mohamad Kassim, Mohamad Haafiz, Hashim, Rokiah
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-09-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Caustic soda; Chemical treatment; Dewaxing; Engineering; Environment; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Hydrophobicity; Industrial Pollution Prevention; Original Paper; Pulp; Pulping; Recycled materials; Recycling; Reinforcing fibers; Renewable and Green Energy; Sodium hydroxide; Starch; Waste Management/Waste Technology; Reinforcing fibre; Kapok fibre; Mechanical strength; Pulping; Secondary fibres
• ISSN: 1877-2641; 1877-265X
• DOI: 10.1007/s12649-021-01342-z

The kapok (
Ceibapentandra
(L.)
Gaertn
) seed fibre is unicellular with length up to 35 mm, however, it is covered by a hydrophobic waxy layer that limits its application in paper production. In this study, the effect of various pulping methods namely mechanical, chemi-mechanical, semichemical and chemical pulping on kapok fibre properties was investigated. Each kapok pulp was then blended with the secondary fibre recovered from kraftliner board for handsheet making to examine their reinforcing ability on strength properties. The results showed that kapok mechanical pulps (with and without dewaxing (5% (v/v) diluted detergent) and chemimechanical pulp were unable to improve the strength properties of the handsheet. Kapok pulps chemically treated with 18–25% of sodium hydroxide gave a better effect on handsheet strength properties whilst fibre treated with 20% sodium hydroxide showing the highest increment. Although the reinforcing effect of the 4% native cooked starch was slightly higher than that of the 10% kapok pulp blended in recycled paper, the recycling potential of the latter was better as all strength properties retained unchanged after recycling. The findings indicated that kapok chemical pulp is a promising reinforcing fibre source with superior recycling potential.
Graphic Abstract