KRAFT PULP AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF <em>CECROPIA</em> <em>PALMATA</em> WOOD

Abstract

The present study was aimed at evaluating the chemical properties and the kraft pulp produced for Cecropia palmata wood and comparing them with Eucalyptus grandis wood. Discs along the stem of 6-year-old trees were transformed into chips. Half of the chips were used for characterisation of wood chemical properties and the rest was cooked to produce kraft pulp. The properties of the pulp were determined and results showed that: (1) there was a decrease of 3.8% in the yield of C. palmata pulp compared with E. grandis; (2) specific volume of C. palmata wood pulp increased with increasing refining time but the time to reach the same Schopper-Riegler degree was shorter than E. grandis pulp; and (3) C. palmata had higher air resistance and tear index than E. grandis, while the opposite was observed for tensile index, burst index and stretch. Cecropia palmata wood had lower lignin content and higher total extractives and holocellulose contents than E. grandis wood.