Evaluating the effectiveness of starch reinforcement in paper production from tropical plant fibers

Abstract

Fiber derivable from plant species is a promising resource that can be employed in the paper-making sector owing to inherent properties such as environment-friendliness, renewability, and abundance as an alternative to conventional wood fiber that has been engendering adverse environmental effects. This paper aims to present an evaluation of the physical and mechanical properties of pulp and paper manufactured chemically from different biomass feedstocks such as Cocos Nucifera L., Furcraea Foetida, and Pennisetum Purpureum in different ratios of 20, 60, and 100% with recycled wastepaper. Moreover, an assessment and comparison are also performed between starch-reinforced and unreinforced paper produced from the same biomasses along with 60 g/m² commercial paper to determine the feasibility of the paper to meet market demands. The samples exhibited bulk densities between 225 and 248 kg/m³, grammage between 59.5 and 69.0 g/m², thickness between 0.249 and 0.314 mm, and water absorption rate between 1.27 and 8.24 ± 0.5 s. It was established that the blend reinforced with starch exhibited higher strength properties whereby the tensile index lays within 2.99 to 19.3 Nm/g, burst index varied between 0.213 and 2.27 kPa m²/g and required between 18 and 125 turns to suffer a rupture. It can be determined that composite paper produced from 100% starch-reinforced as well as 100% unreinforced cocos nucifera was most suitable to be employed as writing and printing materials due to the highest values exhibited by this particular paper blend.