Characterization of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Wood Branches as a Potential Resource for Paper Production

Authors

  • Laura Andze Cellulose Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia
  • Oskars Bikovens Laboratory of Lignin Chemistry, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia
  • Marite Skute Cellulose Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia
  • Maris Puke Biorefinery Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia
  • Inese Filipova Cellulose Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia; Institute of Civil Engineering and Woodworking, Faculty of Forest and Environmental Sciences, Latvia University of Life Sciences and Technologies, Dobeles street 41, Jelgava, Latvia, LV-3001
  • Ulla Milbreta Cellulose Laboratory, Latvian State Institute of Wood Chemistry, Dzerbenes street 27, Riga, Latvia; Institute of Energy Systems and Environment, Riga Technical University, Azenes Street 12/1, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia
  • Ramon Fernando Colmenares-Quintero Engineering Research Institute, Universidad Cooperativa de Colombia, Calle 50 No. 40-74 Block 1 Floor 7th, Medellin, Colombia

Keywords:

Cocoa trees, Theobroma cacao, Kraft pulp, Paper properties, Branch wood

Abstract

For sustainable use of lignocellulosic resources, pruned tree branches of cocoa, one of the major evergreen tropical tree crops with significant economic importance worldwide, were investigated as a potential source of kraft pulp. This study determined the chemical composition, fiber dimensions, kraft pulp, and paper properties of the cocoa tree (Theobroma cacao L.) branches compared to the deciduous trees traditionally used in the paper industry. A handsheet of cocoa pulp showed promising results with narrow fiber length distribution, high paper density, and high mechanical strength. The yield of kraft pulp made from cocoa branches wood was lower. The tensile and burst indices of cocoa pulp handsheet were 2 and 2.5 times higher than that of hardwood traditionally used in the paper industry. These results suggest a potential use of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) tree branch wood for pulp production using the kraft process.

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Published

2024-10-29

How to Cite

Andze, L., Bikovens, O., Skute, M., Puke, M., Filipova, I., Milbreta, U., & Colmenares-Quintero, R. F. (2024). Characterization of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Wood Branches as a Potential Resource for Paper Production. BioResources, 19(4), 9660–9672. Retrieved from https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/22761

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 4 (2024)

Section

Research Article or Brief Communication