Whole jute: A promising raw material for the production of pulps for different grades of paper and newsprint

Jute is an annual plant widely cultivated in Asian countries like Bangladesh, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal and Thailand. India is the largest producer. The jute plant is very much similar to Kenaf. The main users of the Jute plants are the gunny bag industries, using only the best portion (30% of whole plant) for the gunny bags, leaving behind the jute sticks as a waste (70% of whole plant). Due to growing demand of the synthetic bags, the jute industry is at the dying stage. Though the jute fibers are already used by the paper industry, but it is only best fibre used for the production of specialty grade paper, that also in very little quantity. Considering the similarity of whole jute plant with kenaf, utilization of whole jute plant in paper industry is borne in mind. Bleachable grade kraft pulp of kappa no. around 22 could be produced by using 17% Na2O. Pulp obtained could be bleached by CEH to similar to 83% ISO brightness. The pulp produced was quite similar to that of kenaf and showed much superior quality compared to the pulps of widely used non-woody raw materials like bagasse and bamboo for the production of writing and printing grade papers. Partial replacement of chlorine (20%) with chlorine dioxide could result the high brightness (88% ISO) in D/CEoH bleaching sequence. This high brightness pulp with very good strength properties can be used for many superior quality papers and can also be used as a reinforcing pulp to replace the use of long fiber bamboo and softwood pulps to some extent. The unbleached grade soda semi-chemical pulp produced by 15% NaOH was found suitable reinforcing pulp for kraft paper ham waste paper and unbleached semi-chemical pulps of bagasse and other agro residues. Unbleached alkaline peroxide chemimechanical pulp produced from whole jute by APMP (CTMP) process Showed very good physical strength and optical properties which can directly be used for the production of newsprint without blending the chemical pulp.