Development of paper from oil palm empty fruit bunch and mesocarp, and paper mulberry fibers, with chitosan coating

Abstract

This research aimed to develop paper from oil palm empty fruit bunch (Fb), oil palm mesocarp (M), and paper mulberry (P), with chitosan coating, to be used as single-use paper bag for dry food products. The optimal pulp preparation conditions for Fb, M, and P fibers were boiling in 25, 25 and 15% NaOH solution at 170, 170 and 100°C, for 3 hours, respectively. The optimal H2O2 concentrations for bleaching of Fb, M, and P pulps were 40%, 40% and 0.2%, respectively. The obtained pulps were used to prepare papers with the basis weight of 109 g/m2 . The papers consisted of Fb, M, and P pulps at ratios of 70:0:30 (FbP), 0:70:30 (MP) and 35:35:30 (FbMP). It was found that FbP paper showed superior physical and/or mechanical characteristics than those of MP and FbMP. FbP papers were then coated with chitosan solutions (0.2-0.6%) to further improve their mechanical properties and reduce their water absorption characteristics. The optimal concentration of chitosan was 0.4%. This study showed that all three types of pulps could be used to produce papers that had equal or superior mechanical- and water adsorption properties as compared to those of commercially available paper bags made from wood pulp.