In order to optimize the sulfonated chemi-mechanical pulping of palm oil empty fruit bunch, the response surface methodology was employed. It was intended to determine the optimum level of sodium sulfite dosage, sodium hydroxide dosage, maximum cooking temperature, and cooking time at the sulfonation stage, and their influences on paper sheets properties were analyzed. An optimum compromise was obtained, and the sodium sulfite dosage, sodium hydroxide dosage, maximum temperature, and cooking time were 18%, 4%, 155 °C, and 100 min, respectively. The density, bursting strength index, tensile strength index, and tearing strength index were 0.5622 g/cm3, 2.60 kPa·m2/g, 45.01 N·m/g, and 7.53 mN·m2/g, respectively.

https://bioresources.cnr.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/BioRes_15_2_2630_Ping_LLML_Optimiz_Sulfonated_MCP_Palm_Oil_EFB_RSM_16917-2.pdf

Optimization of Sulfonated Chemi-Mechanical Pulping of Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch Using Response Surface Methodology

The co-composting of oil palm fronds and paper mill sludge may be economical and eco-friendly, yet the complex indigenous configuration of lignocellulose reduces the bioavailability of waste, resulting in the hindrance to the humification process. In this work, oil palm fronds after hydrothermal pretreatment were mixed with paper mill sludge for co-composting, and the effect of hydrothermal pretreatment on the humification process was explored using excitation-emission matrix-parallel factor analysis and 16S rDNA sequencing. The results showed that the duration of thermophilic phase was extended from 13 days to 17 days after hydrothermal pretreatment. During hydrothermal-pretreated composting, the consumption of protein-like substances and the production of humus-like substances increased by 24.7% and 33.9%, respectively, compared with those of control. The degradation of polysaccharide (decreased from 76.5 to 20.0 g/kg) was accelerated and the content of reducing sugar (ranged from 11.5 to 13.5 g/kg) was increased. The key microbial communities (including Bacillaceae, Sphingobacteriaceae, Streptosporangiaceae and Thermonosporaceae) showed obviously stronger activity. Correlation analysis showed that the production of reducing sugar and the activity of key microbial communities were reinforced, and both were favorable for the rapid synthesis of humus. Collectively, this work provides an overview of a regulatory mechanism underlying humus formation during the composting of lignocellulosic wastes. 

Hydrothermal pretreatment improves humification in co-composting of oil palm fronds and paper mill sludge

Effectiveness of sulfonation to produce lignin-containing cellulose micro/nanofibrils (LCM/NF) by grinding

Oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) as an abundant waste material can be utilized for pulp production to alleviate the shortage of raw materials in the paper industry. Sulfonated chemi-mechanical pulp (SCMP) has great potential in paper making industry. However, its poor performance due to the high surface lignin content limits its application. In this study, we used EFB as raw material to produce SCMP and systematically studied the effect of ozone treatment on pulp properties. Results show that the surface structure and morphology of fibers exhibited distinct differences under different ozone dosage treatments. Compared to the control, the content of surface lignin of pulps was reduced by 2.56%, 4.64%, 13.24% and 25.24% when ozone consumption was 1, 3, 5 and 7 wt%, respectively. Meanwhile, the treated pulp had a lower drainability at the same refining energy level. Moreover, the physical and optical properties of handsheets were improved significantly after ozone treatment. Ozone treatment is a very efficient way to improve the performance of SCMP. Additionally, this method avoids complicated processes and chemical consumption. Therefore, as an effective, environmentally friendly and low-cost treatment method, ozone treatment can improve the performance of EFB SCMP and thus provide a high-quality pulp resource.

Effect of Ozone Treatment on the Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Sulfonated Chemi-Mechanical Pulp

Effect of Normalization Protocol on Pulping Process Selection Using TOPSIS Multicriteria Decision-Making Method—A Case Study of Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunches

The biomass resources oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB) and sugarcane bagasse, which are residues from the palm oil and sugar industries, continue to be investigated for more applications. With increasing concern for the environment, cleaner production has been a worldwide aim of researchers. In this study, thermomechanical pulp (TMP) from EFB and sugarcane bagasse was prepared with disc refining after steam pretreatment of the raw materials. Afterwards, refining and handsheet properties of TMP using various percentages of unbleached soda bagasse pulp (USBP) were studied. Fiber characterizations and handsheet properties showed that pulp of acceptable quality was obtained via thermomechanical pulping. Moreover, energy consumption during PFI refining of EFB TMP was higher than that of bagasse TMP. Physical properties were further enhanced through introduction of USBP. The results firmly support the feasibility of cleaner thermomechanical pulping of EFB and sugarcane bagasse.

https://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/download/BioRes_14_4_8627_Liu_Thermomechanical_Pulping_Empty_Fruit/7154

Chemical-free Thermomechanical Pulping of Empty Fruit Bunch and Sugarcane Bagasse

The invention discloses a method for preparing unbleached pulp by jointly treating palm empty fruit string thermo-mechanical pulp with laccase and ozone. The method comprises the steps: carrying out steam pretreatment on empty palm fruit strings, carrying out two-stage pulp grinding with different gaps on the empty palm fruit strings subjected to steam pretreatment by using a disc mill, carrying out enzymatic-assisted latency removal on the pulp-ground pulp by laccase, and finally treating the pulp subjected to enzymatic-assisted latency removal by ozone. According to the method, no chemicalsharmful to the environment are used in the whole pulping process, reaction conditions are mild, reaction products are environmentally friendly and free of pollution, the current environmental protection policy is completely met, and after the prepared palm empty fruit string unbleached pulp is made into handsheets, various physical performance indexes such as softness, water filtering performanceand bulkiness all reach corresponding standards.

Yang Ping

Papers

Optimization of Sulfonated Chemi-Mechanical Pulping of Palm Oil Empty Fruit Bunch Using Response Surface Methodology

Chemical-free Thermomechanical Pulping of Empty Fruit Bunch and Sugarcane Bagasse

Method for preparing unbleached pulp by jointly treating palm empty fruit string thermo-mechanical pulp with laccase and ozone