Prospects of Use of Kenaf in Pulp and Papermaking, 1995 Pulping Conference Proceedings

S. K. Mittal & Subhash Maheshwari

Phoenix Pulp & Paper

The growing consciousness on environmental issues and increasing demand of paper and paper prodocts have been forcing the paper industry to use non-wood plant fibers. Kenaf has also been identified as a potential source of raw material. The present paper discusses briefly about the cultivation of kenaf in Thailand. A typical comparative economics of cultivation has also been made and the data clearly indicate that the economics of cultivation of kenaf is not favourable compared other conventional crops. The paper also describes the mill scale experience on oxygen delignification of kenaf pulp. A comparison of physical properties of pulps of eucalyptus, bamboo and kenaf, commonly manufactured pulps in Thailand, has been made. The experience gained on commercial scale on use of kenaf pulp for papermaking indicates that whole kenaf pulp can be used in combination of other pulps for manufacture of different grades of papers. It has been concluded that further efforts are required to sake sustained availability of kenaf and kenaf pulp on economically competitive basis.