Influences of the Operating Variables of Formic Acid Pulping on Pulp Properties of Perimping Grass

Abstract

Perimping grass is one of lignocellulosic material which has not been fully utilized yet, so it is potential to be used as a raw material for pulp. The objective of this research is to study influences of the operating variables of formic acid pulping on pulp properties (bursting index, tearing index, and tensile index). Influences of the operating variables were studied by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD). The pulping experiments is carried out at the boiling temperature of cooking liquor on the atmospheric pressure, with 40 grams of perimping grass using formic acid concentrations of 60% - 80%, reaction time from 60 to 180 minutes, and liquid to solid ratio of 10/1 - 20/1, with HCl catalyst of 0.1% wt. The results showed that the physical properties of pulp from perimping grass are bursting index is 22-184,36 kPa m2/g, tearing index is 187-660 mN m2/g, and tensile index is 659.3-2.1149 N m/g.