Pulp & paper making from Kekabu; effect of active alkali, temperature and time on pulp & paper properties

Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to study the effect of soda AQ pulping variables on pulp and paper properties made from kekabu tree (ceiba pentandra spp.). Active alkali (AA), pulping time (t) and pulping temperature were the variables based on the ranges of 20 to 30 %,60 to 180 min, and 160 to 180°C respectively. Pulp properties which are screening yield and freeness were in range of 24 to 33.9% and 548 to 670ml. Range for paper properties which are tensile index, tear index, and burst index were 30.02 to 46.91 N.m/g, 2.53 to 3.66mN.m2/g and 2.19 to 3.19 kPa.m2/g. Active alkali was obviously affected to pulp and paper properties. According to the quadratic regression model, combination of pulping variable was active alkali: 24.99%, pulping time: 67.68min and pulping temperature: 171.25 ºC . Pulp and paper properties in optimum condition were screening yield: 31.74%, freeness; 616.51 ml, tensile index: 43.78N.m/g, tear index: 3.29mN.m2/g, and burst index; 3.03kPa.m2/g.