SODA PULPING OF SUN HEMP (CROTALARIA JUNCEA L.) AND ITS USAGE IN MOLDED PULP PACKAGING
Abstract
Petroleum-based materials are often used in the packaging industry. However, the single use value of such products can be problematic with regard to proper waste disposal. As such, molded pulp packaging can be used as an alternative, given its ease of recycling, composting, and eventual biodegradation. In this work, we aim to study the pulp properties of sun hemp and its usage as molded pulp products. For this purpose, unbleached beaten and unbeaten soda pulps derived from the whole stem of sun hemp were examined for their fiber morphology, fibrillation, fiber classification, and physical properties. The sun hemp pulp was subsequently molded using a batch molding machine. To determine the hydrophobicity of the molded pulp products, the molded samples were manufactured with and without additives. Finally, some properties of the molded pulp products were examined and compared with the commercially available bleached bagasse molded pulp products. It was observed that the molded products made from sun hemp pulp with additives had a higher water contact angle than that of the commercial products. In terms of general usage, the molded products from sun hemp pulp with additives were found to be capable of storing hot water, hot cooking oil, as well as microwaving water. We concluded that the sun hemp pulp could be used as an alternative fibrous raw material in the production of molded pulp packaging.
References
1. Alila, S., Besbes, I., Vilar, M.R., Mutjé, P., Boufi, S., 2013. Non-woody plants as raw materials for production of micro fibrillated cellulose (MFC): a comparative study. Ind. Crop. Prod. 41, 250–259.doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.04.028
2. Bhardwaj, N., Goyal, S.K., Gupta, A., Upadhyaya, J.S., Ray, A.K., 2005. Soda and soda-anthraquinone pulping of rice straw. Appita J. 58, 180–185.
3. Chauhan, V., Kumar, N., Kumar, M., Chakrabarti, S.K., Thapar, S., 2011. Effect of separate and mixed refining of hardwood and softwood pulps on paper properties. J. Korea Techn. Assoc. Pp Paper Indust. 43, 1–10.
4. Cunningham, R.L., Clark, T.F., Bagby, M.O., 1978. Crotalaria juncea annual source of papermaking fiber. TAPPI J. 61, 4165–4167.
5. Curling, S.F., Laflin, N., Davies, G.M., Ormondroyd, G.A., Elias, R.M., 2017. Feasibility of using straw in a strong, thin, pulp moulded packaging material. Ind. Crop. Prod. 97, 395–400.doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.12.042
6. Debnath, M., Sarder, R., Pal, L., Hubbe, M.A., 2022. Molded pulp products for sustainable packaging: production rate challenges and product opportunities. BioResources 17, 3810–3870.doi: 10.15376/biores.17.2.debnath
7. Didone, M., Tosello, G., 2018. Moulded pulp products manufacturing with thermoforming. Packag. Technol. Sci. 32, 7–22.
8. Fahmy, Y., Fahmy, T.Y., Mobarak, F., El-Sakhawy, M., Fadl, M., 2017. Agricultural residues (wastes) for manufacture of paper, board, and miscellaneous products: background overview and future prospects. Int. J. ChemTech. Res. 10, 424–448.
9. Ferdous, T., Ni, Y.H., Quaiyyum, M.A., Uddin, M.N., Jahan, M.S., 2021. Non-wood fibers: relationships of fiber properties with pulp properties. ACS Omega 6, 21613–21622.doi: 10.1021/acsomega.1c02933
10. Ferdous, T., Quaiyyum, M.A., Salam, A., Jahan, M.S., 2020. Pulping of bagasse (Saccrarum officinarum), kash (Saccharum spontaneum) and corn stalks (Zea mays). Curr. Res. Green Sustain. Chem. 3, 100017.doi: 10.1016/j.crgsc.2020.100017
11. Hassan, E., Hassan, M., Oksman, K., 2011. Improving bagasse pulp paper sheet properties with micro fibrillated cellulose isolated from xylanase-treated bagasse. Wood Fiber Sci. 43, 76–82.
12. Jin, H.L., Kose, R., Akada, N., Okayama, T., 2022. Relationship between wettability of pulp fibers and tensile strength of paper during recycling. Sci. Rep. 12, 1560.doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-05514-2
13. Khakifirooz, A., Kiaei, M., Nouri Sadegh, A., Samariha, A. 2012. Studies on chemical properties and morphological characteristics of Iranian cultivated kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.): a potential source of fibrous raw material for paper industry in Iran. Res. Crop. 13, 715–720.
14. Khantayanuwong, S., Boonpitaksakul, W., Chitbanyong, K., Pisutpiched, S., Puangsin, B., 2021. Physical properties of hand sheets derived from Coi (Streblus asper Lour.) pulp fiber as papermaking material traced from ancient times. BioResources 16, 6201–6211.doi: 10.15376/biores.16.3.6201-6211
15. Khantayanuwong, S., Yimlamai, P., Chitbanyong, K., Wanitpinyo, K., Pisutpiched, S., Sungkaew, S., Sukyai, P., Puangsin, B., 2023. Fiber morphology, chemical composition, and properties of kraft pulping hand sheet made from four Thailand bamboo species. J. Nat. Fiber. 20, 2150924.doi: 10.1080/15440478.2022.2150924
16. Liu, C., Luan, P.C., Li, Q., Cheng, Z., Sun, X., Cao, D.X., Zhu, H.L., 2020. Biodegradable, hygienic, and compostable tableware from hybrid sugarcane and bamboo fibers as plastic alternative. Matter 3, 2066–2079.doi: 10.1016/j.matt.2020.10.004
17. Lukmandaru, G., Setiaji, F., Siagian, R. M., 2019. Effects of mixing ratio of heavily beaten Pinus merkusii pulp on physical properties of kraft Acacia nilotica pulp sheets. Wood Res. J. 10, 53–60.
18. Mazhari Mousavi, S.M., Hosseini, S.Z., Resalati, H., Mahdavi, S., Rasooly Garmaroody, E., 2013. Papermaking potential of rapeseed straw, a new agricultural-based fiber source. J. Clean. Prod. 52, 420–424.doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.02.016
19. Nasroun, T.H., 2019. Effect of cooking mixtures of kenaf and bagasse and blending their pulps on paper properties. Int. J. Res. Public. 37, 1–11.
20. Saikia, C.N., Goswami, T., Ali, F., 1997. Evaluation of pulp and paper making characteristics of certain fast-growing plants. Wood Sci. Technol. 31, 467–475.
21. Samariha, A., Khakifirooz, A., 2011. Application of NSSC pulping to sugarcane bagasse. BioResources 6, 3313–3323.doi: 10.15376/biores.6.3.3313-3323
22. Sengupta, S., Debnath, S., 2018. Development of sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea) fibre based unconventional fabric. Ind. Crop. Prod. 116, 109–115.doi: 10.1016/j.indcrop.2018.02.059
23. Shakhes, J., Marandi, M.A.B., Zeinaly, F., Saraian, A., Saghafi, T., 2011a. Tobacco residuals as promising lignocellulosic materials for pulp and paper industry. BioResources 6, 4481–4493.doi: 10.15376/biores.6.4.4481-4493
24. Shakhes, J., Zeinaly, F., Marandi, M.A.B., Saghafi, T., 2011b. The effects of processing variables on the soda and soda-AQ pulping of kenaf bast fiber. BioResources 6, 4626–4639.doi: 10.15376/biores.6.4.4626-4639
25. Sharma, A. K, Dutt, D., Upadhyaya, J.S., Roy, T. K, 2011. Anatomical, morphological, and chemical characterization of Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Bambusa balcooa, Malocana baccifera, Bambusa arundinacea and Eucalyptus tereticornis. BioResources 6, 5062–5073.doi: 10.15376/biores.6.4.5062-5073
26. Sharma, N., Godiyal, R.D., Bhawana, Thapliyal, B.P., Anupam, K., 2018. Pulping and bleaching of hydro distillation waste of Citronella grass (Cymbopogon winterianus jowitt) for papermaking. Waste Biomass Valoriz. 9, 409–419.doi: 10.1007/s12649-016-9791-y
27. Sonje, S.B., Bhuktar, A.S., 2016. Anatomical studies of Crotalaria juncea L. J. Glob. Biosci. 5, 4071–4074.
28. Sridach, W., 2010. The environmentally benign pulping process of non-wood fibers. Suranaree J. Sci. Technol. 17, 105–123.
29. Syed, N.F.N., Zakaria, M.H., Bujang, J.S., 2016. Fiber characteristics and papermaking of seagrass using hand-beaten and blended pulp. BioResources 11, 5358–5380.
30. Tripathi, M.K., Chaudhary, B., Sarkar, S.K., Singh, S.R., Bhandari, H.R., Mahapatra, B.S., 2013. Performance of sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) as a summer season (pre-monsoon) crop for fibre. J. Agric. Sci. 5, 236–242.
31. Tutus, A., Deniz, I., Eroglu, H., 2004. Rice straw pulping with oxide added soda-oxygen-anthraquinone. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 7, 1350–1354.doi: 10.3923/pjbs.2004.1350.1354
32. Wang, Q.L., Xiao, S.L., Shi, S.Q., Cai, L.P., 2018. Effect of light-delignification on mechanical, hydrophobic, and thermal properties of high-strength molded fiber materials. Sci. Rep. 8, 955.doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-19623-4
33. White, G.A., Haun, J.R., 1965. Growing Crotalaria juncea, a multi-purpose legume, for paper pulp. Econ. Bot. 19, 175–183.doi: 10.1007/BF02862829
34. Wise, L.E., Murphy, M., D'Adieco, A.A., 1946. Chlorite holocellulose, its fractionation and bearing on summative wood analysis and studies on the hemicelluloses. Paper Trade J 122, 35–43.
