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Pulp and paper production: A review

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 Seminar on Advanced Bio- and Mineral based Natural Fibre Composites (SBMC2021)

PULP AND PAPER PRODUCTION: A REVIEW

A.N. Afiqah1, S.M. Sapuan1, 2*, R.A. Ilyas3,4

1
Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Putra Malaysia,
43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2
Laboratory of Biocomposite Technology, Institute of Tropical Forestry and Forest Products (INTROP), Universiti
Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
3
Sustainable Waste Management Research Group (SWAM), School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of
Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
4
Centre for Advanced Composite Materials (CACM), Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310 UTM Johor Bahru,
Johor, Malaysia
*Corresponding’s author email: sapuan@upm.edu.my

ABSTRACT

Pulp and paper production are extremely complex and incorporate a wide variety of process fields, including wood
preparation, pulping, chemical recovery, bleaching and paper production, to transform wood into finished product
which is paper. Processing choices and the type of wood being handled are also decided by the type of paper. The
paper pulp may be made from virgin fiber by chemical or mechanical processes or may be produced by repulping paper
for recycling. Wood is the primary raw material of origin. Recycled paper accounts for around 50% of the fabrics used
but, in a few instances, straw, hemp, hay, cotton and other cellulose-bearing materials may be used. Paper processing
is primarily a two-step process in which the fibrous raw material is first transformed into pulp and then the pulp is
converted into paper.

Keywords: pulp and paper, pulping, wood, chemical, mechanical

INTRODUCTION

The processing of paper is effectively a two-step process where the fibrous raw material is first extracted into a pulp
and then the pulp is converted into paper. Pulp production can be accomplished through mechanical or chemical
process. Depending on the type and grade of paper required for processing, the pulp is then retouched and thus further
processed. The pulp consists of mechanically or chemically broken wood or other lignocellulosic materials, and then
the detached fibers are released and can be dispersed in water and turned into a network of woven pulp. Mechanical
pulping is a way to break down fiber bonds by adding mechanical energy to the chips [1]. To produce mechanical
powers, this mechanism uses electricity as the primary energy source. The aim of mechanical pulping is to preserve
the key feature of lignin to guarantee that the high potential of pulp can be accomplished with sufficient strength and
luminosity properties. Chemical pulping utilizes chemicals with sufficient chemical heat and pressure content to break
down the wood pulp [2]. This process dissolves lignin and other components of the inter-fiber matrix material as well
as lignin in the fiber walls. This allows the fibers to link together during the papermaking process by forming hydrogen
bonds between their cellulose surfaces [3]. In this case, chemical pulps are produced using the kraft and sulphite
methods through the cooking process of raw substances. Fig. 1 shows the pulping and papermaking manufacturing
processes.

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 Seminar on Advanced Bio- and Mineral based Natural Fibre Composites (SBMC2021)

Fig. 1: Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Processes [4].

TABLE 1: The polymer and fiber in pulp and paper making.

Authors Polymer Source of Description
nanocellulose
Rafidah Pulp Oil palm  The blending improved the properties of EFB paper by
et al., empty fruit incorporating kenaf fibers.
[5] bunch, kenaf  To meet the requirements for paper properties of tensile, tear,
fibers, kenaf opacity, and smoothness, it is recommended that the mixing of
whole stem at least 10 percent whole kenaf stem fibers into EFB fibers is
fibers required.
Liu et Pulp Wheat, cereal  A steadily increasing annual fiber resource with a lower content
al., [6] straws, of lignin.
bamboo, reed,  Generated with a lower dose of chemicals at low temperatures.
kenaf, cotton,
sisal, and
abaca

KENAF FIBER

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is an annual non-wood plant that has demonstrated tremendous promise as an alternate
source for paper fiber. Kenaf has a very positive future for papermaking due to its long fibers extracted from the outer
fibrous bar and bast with tremendous promise in the bio-composite industry [7]–[14]. Analysis studies have shown
that, as a dicotyledonous vine, the kenaf stem consists of bast and core fibers that are substantially different in chemical
and morphological properties. The characteristics of fiber specifically affect the pulping conditions used in the
manufacture of pulp and paper. Kenaf fibers demonstrate different behavior during pulping and papermaking due to
their different properties and structure. Core pulp, owing to the presence of components with a high surface area coming
from the pit, has poor pulp freeness which improves susceptibility to grinding, and the pulp can easily reaches a freeness
value that is very prohibitive for practical purposes. These short comings limit the use of core pulp, which is probably
best used as a raw material for paper. Bast pulp, on the other hand, quickly refines and develops its strength. Due to
variations in the consistency of bast and core material, some researchers have suggested to isolate the isolation and
pulping of each fraction and to use either single pulp or mix refined bast pulp and unrefined core based on final product
properties. These analysis findings have shown that the use of kenaf (bast and core) has been promised for technological
and economic advantages [15]. Fig. 2 shows the process of pulp and paper by using kenaf fiber.

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 Seminar on Advanced Bio- and Mineral based Natural Fibre Composites (SBMC2021)

Fig. 2: Process of pulp and paper by using kenaf fiber [16].

EMPTY FRUIT BUNCHES (EFB)

Empty fruit bunches (EFB) is another example of a non-wood fiber supply [17], that can be a successful alternative to
substitute, primarily in Malaysia, the key fiber supplies for pulp and papermaking. Wood is the main source of cellulose
fiber used in the pulp and paper industry. However, raw material supplies have been one of the big problems in the
paper industry because of the shortage of woody products in recent years. The use of non-wood fibers that can be
processed into pulp is an economical way to manufacture pulp and paper [18]. Along with recent development of the
palm oil industry, EFB had been available for the manufacture of paper-based goods as a raw fiber. Oil palm waste has
contributed to the profitability of the factors that optimize the use of by-products in the growth of the palm oil sector.

APPLICATIONS OF PULP AND PAPER

Advances in technology mean many products made from pulp or the residue of making pulp that can be eaten, wear,
power the car or even to conduct medical research. Biochemicals and the textile form of materials are not made of
traditional pulp, instead of variations in the pulp method and of the same raw materials or residues of the pulping
process. Pulp also plays a big part in daily production, for example, pulp produces medical papers, binding agents in
foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals for the medical industry. Other than that, pulp also produces filters for coffee and tea,
fresh food wrapping, paper bags and paper cups for everyday use.

CONCLUSIONS

With increased demand for paper, current wood supplies could be insufficient to satisfy this increasing demand for
paper. It is also important to accept non-wood pulp to meet the potential shortage in wood fiber for paper production.
In addition, this has also contributed to the development of environmentally sustainable alternative pulping methods.
As for the raw materials used in the manufacture of paper, rice straw and wheat straw are readily available and
comparatively inexpensive to use. However, environmental issues about small straw-using mills compensate for this
benefit. As the government enforces environmental legislation, the amount of rice straw and wheat straw used in
pulping can be drastically decreased. Bamboo and other possible non-wood products would become more common in
the pulp and paper industries. Thus, it is necessary to build cleaner manufacturing technologies, reduce pulping costs,
boost product quality, and incorporate industrial improvements.

REFERENCES

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