Maintaining Environmental Quality: Fiber Characterization as a Tool for Verifying Pulp Fiber Composition

• Main Authors: Marsoem, Sri Nugroho, -, Joko Sulistyo, -, Vendy Eko Prasetyo, -, Yus Andhini, -, Fajar Setiaji
• Format: Article PeerReviewed
• Language: English
• Published: 2012
• Subjects: Forestry Sciences
• Online Access: https://repository.ugm.ac.id/135565/1/120208%20Papercon%20Paper-Sri%20N%20Marsoem-UGM-Indonesia-Rev-DB%20clean13-14F-8-20A12.doc; https://repository.ugm.ac.id/135565/
• Institution: Universitas Gadjah Mada

In an effort to provide a more accurate tool for verifying wood fiber species composing a pulp and paper products, which can affect the properties of the products, a study was conducted to see whether each wood species’ fiber has distinctive and significant characteristics that can be used for such verification. The study was initiated by collecting fiber characteristics of wood species grown in Indonesia for making pulp and paper, such as Acacia mangium, Acacia crassicarpa and Eucalyptus pelita, and other alternative wood fiber species, including protected wood species. Each wood species to be examined was processed in three different ways to produce three samples. For the first sample the wood was macerated. For the second sample, instead of maceration, the wood was pulped chemically. For the third sample, the wood was pulped and then refined several times. After processing, each sample was photographed and then its shape, morphology, dimensions and the proportion of its dimensions were examined and recorded. All the data obtained were then stored as a database for verification. The result showed that each wood species has unique fiber characteristics that can be used for identifying its presence in a pulp or paper sheet. For example, comparison between ramin (Gonystilus bancanus) fiber and Acacia mangium fiber indicated that they differ not only in their dimensions but also in the shape of the fiber, which could be easily recognized. The result also showed that although the pulping and refining processes would cut some of the fibers into two or more sections, the characteristics that were observed in the intact fiber can still be recognized.