Turkish Journal of Forestry (Sep 2021)
Investigation of pulp and paper production from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) stalks
Abstract
In this study, the use of bast fibers removed hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) stalks in pulp and paper production and some physical and optical properties of the produced papers were investigated. The chemical components and fiber morphological properties of hemp stalks free of bast fibers were determined and their suitability for pulp and paper production was examined. The holocellulose, cellulose and lignin contents of the hemp stalks were 79.7%, 52.0% and 22.2%, respectively, while fiber length, fiber width and lumen diameter were 0.60 mm, 28.8 µm and 13.4 µm, respectively. In line with these data, pulp production was carried out by cooking the hemp stalks with the Kraft cooking method. The yield, kappa number and viscosity values of pulp obtained from hemp stalks were determined as 48.2%, 39 and 1400 cm3/g, respectively. The breaking length and brightness values of the papers produced from these pulps were measured as 6.87 km and 33.34% ISO, respectively. Consequently, high yield and strength pulps can be produced from hemp stalks free of bast fibers, and since it has a low kappa number and high viscosity, it can be easily bleached.
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