PULPING AND PAPER PROPERTIES OF SOME FIBER CROPS

In order to identify herbaceous species utilizable for pulp and paper production three perennial species (Miscanthus sinensis Anderss, Spart ium junceum L. and Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich) were tested in the De partment of Agronomy of University of Pisa. Screening of these species for biomass and stem production was carried out from 1993 to 1995 in the second, third and fourth growing season. Concurrently, these speci es were also tested for suitability as pulp materials on a laboratory scale with a 'high yield process'. The main physical-mechanical and op tical properties of the paper produced from these species were evaluat ed on 80 g m(-2) test sheets as functions of the following parameters: Schopper-Riegler freeness, tensile strength, tearing strength, bursti ng strength, brightness, opacity, permeability and beating time. All t he species demonstrated good agronomic traits making them potentially suitable for cultivation in the Mediterranean area. As far as paper-ma king characteristics are concerned, the most promising results were ob tained with M. sinensis pulps. Pulps from this species, when bleached, could already be used for paper making. Their good properties make th ese pulps suitable for printing or writing paper production up to 20% besides the possibility of using them for low weight coated papers. (C ) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.