Fibre Characterisation of Gerdenia Ternifolia (Linn C.) Schumach for its Pulping Potential
Keywords:
Gerdenia ternifolia, fibre characteristics, pulpability.Abstract
The study was conducted to determine the fibre characteristics of Gerdenia ternifolia obtained at different locations in Onigambari Forest Reserve of Oyo State, Nigeria, with a view to assessing its pulping potential. Three trees of Gerdenia ternifolia of average age of 7 years purposively selected were felled, and wood samples collected from the stem of each tree at 10, 50 and 90% of the merchantable height corresponding to the base, middle and top positions respectively. The collected wood samples were macerated in a solution containing 10% acetic acid and 30% hydrogen peroxide in the ratio of 1: 2 by volume. Pulp samples of the softened and defiberised wood were viewed under a visopan microscope for assessment and determination of the following fibre parameters: fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width, cell wall thickness, and Runkel ratio, coefficient of suppleness and felting power. The results obtained show that Gerdenia ternifolia on the average has the following dimensional characteristics: fibre length (1.38mm), fibre diameter (27.79 µm), lumen width 14.80µm), cell wall thickness (6.48 µm), Runkel ratio (0.88), coefficient of suppleness (53.70) and felting power (51.08). The values obtained indicate the suitability of Gerdenia ternifolia as a pulping material, especially for its Runkel ratio of 0.88 which is less than 1, and a favourable coefficient of suppleness of greater than 50. A comparison of the values for the respective parameters assessed with similar values from known pulpable wood species like Gmelina arborea and Pinus caribaea, gives encouraging results. However, the need to subject the species to conventional chemical pulping under varied process regimes will be imperative, in order to establish the screened pulp yield of the study plant for affirmative determination of its pulpability. Also, despite not having wood samples taken from the radial plane of outer, middle and core positions, to give a holistic assessment of wood, it can still be concluded that based on this study, Gerdenia ternifolia is pulpable and is therefore recommended as a good and suitable fibrous material for the pulp and paper industry.
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