Abstract:

The pulp and paper industry has been growing fast due to the increasing population demands. In order to meet these demands, the use of alternative raw materials and new technologies for pulp and paper manufacture has increased depending on environmental concerns. In this study, pulp production possibilities of the banana plant (Musa sapientum) were investigated by the NH4OH-KOH method from banana pseudo-stem wastes formed in large quantities during fruit harvest. The liquid to banana pseudo-stem ratio, the maximum cooking temperature, and the cooking time at the maximum temperature were kept constant as 6, 165 °C, and 60 min., respectively. In the study, two different alkaline ratios, 20%, and 22%, were used and the changes in pulp and paper properties were observed by systematically changing the NH4OH and KOH ratios in the cooking liquor. It was observed that, the kappa numbers of the pulps decreased due to the increasing KOH and NH4OH ratios, but sufficient delignification could not be achieved. The brightness values of the produced pulps were low due to the lignin content of the pulps, while the viscosity values were preserved. Although, it has been determined that papers with values high tensile index (60,95 Nm/g), tear index (14,94 mNm2/g), and burst index (4,28 kPa.m2/g) were produced by the NH4OH-KOH method from banana pseudo-stem wastes. According to the results obtained, it was thought that the papers produced from banana pseudo-stem wastes by the NH4OH-KOH method could be suitable for the packaging industry.

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