Refiner mechanical pulping of kenaf bark fibre

Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) is being promoted as a raw material for paperma king because of rapidly decreasing forest areas, the rising cost of pulpwoo d, and increasing demand for pulp and paper. Attempts have bren made to pro duce refiner mechanical pulp (RMP) from kenaf bark fibre, procured from Mis sissippi State University, by using a 300-mm Sprout-Bauer pilot refiner. Th e factors controlled during refining were consistency, multistage refining (number of passes), and spacing of refiner plates. Thr spacing of refiner p lates and number of passes are very, important parameters in controlling fi bre/fines ratio, and determining strength and optical properties of paper. The results indicate that the bark and bark22 (containing 22% core) RMP is not only suitable for newsprint manufacture but can also be used fur higher grade applications such as lightweight coated papers.