Title
Pulping and papermaking properties of Zara plant
Authors
MD. N. A. LIKHON, MD. MOSTAFIZUR RAHMAN, JANNATUN NAYEEM, RAZIA SULTANA POPY, ABUL K. M. GOLAM SARWAR AND MD. SARWAR JAHAN

Received February 24, 2023
Published Volume 57 Issue 5-6 May-June
Keywords pulp, non-woods, pulpability, bleachability, papermaking properties

Abstract
The fast-growing Zara plant (a putative hybrid of Pennisetum purpureum Schumach.) is usually planted for cattle fodder. For the first time, Zara plant was evaluated for its pulping potential based on anatomical, chemical, and morphological characteristics. This plant was characterized by an acceptable amount of α-cellulose (40.32%) and lignin (18.4%), with medium fiber length (1.09 mm). Soda–anthraquinone (AQ) pulping of Zara plant was investigated. Anatomically, stems of Zara plant had porous structure, mainly composed of vascular bundles surrounded by parenchyma tissue. Consequently, they were easier to delignify and defibrate, and a pulp yield of 46.54% was obtained, with kappa number 15.45 under the conditions of 14% alkali charge for 120 min of cooking at 150 °C. Good papermaking properties were observed, the tensile index was 78.9 N.m/g at 43 °SR. The resulting pulps showed good bleachability in elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching sequences (D0(EP)D1). Pulp brightness of 81.5%, with the viscosity of 16.0 mPaS, was obtained, with the consumption of 25 kg ClO2/ton of pulp.