Chemical composition analysis of Sesbania grandiflora for Pulp and Paper production

Sesbania grandiflora has potential as raw material of pulp in pulp and paper production. In pulp and paper industry, there has a long-term problem which is raw materials for pulp and paper production are insufficient. Thus, the aim of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition of Sesbania grandiflora wood and pulp. Kraft pulping was carried out in a laboratory rotary standard steel digester to produce Sesbania grandiflora pulp. All the chemical compositions of Sesbania grandiflora were analysed in accordance with relevant Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) Test Method, Japanese Standard Method JIS 8101 and Chlorination Method. The parameters that involved in chemical characteristics determination are cellulose, hemicelluloses, holocellulose, lignin, extractives and ash content. In order to propose the suitability of the Sesbania grandiflora as raw material for pulp and paper production, the results obtained are compared to other literatures such as wood and non-wood sources. Results indicated the amount of cellulose fibers content of wood (35.3%) is lower than pulp (78.4%). Besides that, Sesbania grandiflora wood in holocellulose content (60.7%) is lower than Sesbania grandiflora pulp (94.7%). However, hemicelluloses content of pulp (16.3%) is lower than wood (25.4%). Next, higher amount of lignin content in wood (24.7%) is determined rather than pulp (0.2%). Furthermore, Sesbania grandiflora pulp has a low extractives (0.5%) whereas the extractives content in wood is 3.0%. Moreover, ash content in wood is 1.1°/0 while in pulp is 0.9%. This is because the function of Kraft Pulping is reducing the content of lignin, extractives, hemicelluloses and ash while increasing the content of holocellulose and cellulose. Therefore, in the conclusion, chemical composition of Sesbania grandiflora indicated that Sesbania grandiflora has potential as raw material that can be used for pulp and paper production.