Pulp and paper from blue agave waste from tequila production

Pulping of blue agave waste, from the production of tequila, was evaluated by both chemical and biomechanical pulping processes. Two conventional and two organosolv systems were used to pulp the agave waste under a standard s et of conditions. The soda-ethanol process was superior in terms of deligni fication and pulp properties in comparison to the soda and ethanol organoso lv processes for pulping of agave waste; however, the kraft-process gave th e best strength properties. In general, the strength of the agave waste pul ps was rather poor in comparison to wood and other agro-based pulps; howeve r, the tear strength was relatively high. This result is typical of poorly bonded sheets and may be due to the coarseness of the agave fibers and/or l oss of hemicelluloses in the steaming process for the tequila production. F ungal treatment of the agave waste with Ceriporiopsis subvermispora reduced the energy consumption for mechanical refining but gave biomechanical pulp s with inferior strength properties. The blue agave chemical pulps should b e suitable for blending with softwood kraft pulps for publication grade pap er.