Process Optimization of Pineapple Leaf Fibre-Based Kraft Paper Integrated with Gum Arabic

Abstract

The ever-increasing environmental concern on pollution from polymer derived packaging materials has led to research on new, sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. Among the new ventures are non-wood fibres and agro-waste. Pineapple Leaf Fibre (PALF), a byproduct of pineapple cultivation, proffers a promising and sustainable alternative for kraft paper production. This study explores the optimal processing conditions for the integration of Gum Arabic to strike a good balance between the tensile strength and flexibility of a PALF-based kraft paper. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of chemical treatments on the pulp yield, chemical composition and mechanical properties of the kraft paper produced. The tensile strength values of the PALF-based kraft paper recorded has a mean ± standard deviation of 16.24N/mm² ± 5.46N/mm². This result outperformed papers produced from non-wood fibres and matches the tensile strength values of PALF composites reported in literature. Through systematic experimentation, it was found that the multi-response optimal process parameter combination for a PALF-based kraft paper is cooking temperature at 130°C, moderate alkali concentration at 4% and 50 % Gum Arabic concentration with a cooking time of 90 minutes and a beating time of 12 minutes. These findings accentuate the viability of PALF as a raw material for kraft paper, offering a promising sustainable solution for the packaging industry and potential commercial applications.