Physical and chemical characteristics of seagrass fiber for papermaking
Marine angiosperm could inevitably offer considerable potential resources for their fiber yet less research has been conducted especially in Malaysia. In the present study fiber characteristics of seven species of seagrass; Enhalus acoroides, Cymodocea serrulata, big-leaved Halophila ovalis, smal...
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| Format: | Project Paper Report |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2013
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| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/82875/ http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/82875/1/FP%202013%20108%20-%20IR.pdf |
| Summary: | Marine angiosperm could inevitably offer considerable potential resources for
their fiber yet less research has been conducted especially in Malaysia. In the
present study fiber characteristics of seven species of seagrass; Enhalus acoroides,
Cymodocea serrulata, big-leaved Halophila ovalis, small-leaved H. ovalis,
Halophila spinulosa and Halodule uninervis were investigated. Nine fiber end
structure were observed in seagrass fibre including pointed, blunt, scalloped,
scimitar-like, spatulate, forked, rounded, one side tapering, and pitted on side.
Fiber dimension were studied to determine slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient,
Runkel’s ratio and Luce shape factor species selection. Each species have the
tendency in papermaking production as it belong in preferable range of
slenderness ratio (>33), Runkel ratio (≤1) and high Luce’s shape factor but low
flexibility coefficient characterize by rigid fiber. The chemical composition
showed that seven species have high cellulose (>34%) and low lignin content
(<20%). Five species were used in papermaking production using Japanese and
Western methods excluding small-leaved H. ovalis and H. uninervis due to low
dry weight. Enhalus acoroides using both Western and Japanese method has the
highest tensile strength with 4.16 kN/m and 3.46 kN/m respectively. The highest
breaking length (3.43 km) was observed in T. hemprichii using Japanese method.
This showed that both methods were comparable to produce a good quality paper,
and only differ in the surface appearance. The papers made from Western method
were smoother, while papers made from Japanese method have more aesthetical
value. |
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