Caracterização tecnológica da madeira de Cupressus lusitânica visando à produção de polpa celulósica

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, basic density and tracheids morphological parameters of the wood of Cupressus lusitanica aiming to verify its suitability for cellulosic pulp production. Discs were collected from three 16-year-old trees to determine chemical, physical and morphological characteristics. The morphology of the tracheids was evaluated in the annual rings corresponding to the ages of 4, 7, 10, 13 and 16 years. The pulp quality parameters were calculated from the tracheid parameters. The chemical composition indicated low ash and extractive contents (0.27 and 2.13%, respectively), but high lignin content (32.52%). The basic density (0.375 g cm -3 ) was smaller than other species of softwood used for pulp production. The mean values of tracheids dimensions observed were 2.41 mm of length, 31.40 μm of width; 25.15 μm of lumen diameter and 3.12 μm of wall thickness, which tended to increase in values with increasing age. In general, C. lusitanica wood presents good technological characteristics for pulp and paper production, especially for the observed quality morphological index.