Integration of Waste from Invasive Alien Species <i>Phytolacca americana</i> with Eucalyptus Commercial Pulp for Papermaking: A Review on the Evolution of Physic-Mechanical and Chemical Paper Properties
<p id="p1">The paper industry contributes significantly to the transformation of native forests into monocultures of fast growing exotic species such as <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-i...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Book Chapter |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IntechOpen
2024
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.intechopen.com/chapters/1197902 |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | <p id="p1">The paper industry contributes significantly to the transformation of native forests into monocultures of fast growing exotic species such as <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Eucalyptus globulus</italic></em>, reducing biodiversity. This expansion, driven by the demand for cellulose-based products, threatens ecosystems by displacing native flora and causing soil impoverishment. To address these issues, the study explores the possibility of reusing waste fibers obtained after cleaning areas affected by a major presence of invasive species such as <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Phytolacca americana</italic></em>, as a sustainable alternative to traditional wood fibers in paper production. The research focused on Ribadumia riparian forest in Galicia, Spain, and involved the entire process of obtaining and processing <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Phytolacca americana</italic></em> pulp. It assesses the physical and mechanical properties of the resulting paper, using advanced techniques such as SEM visualization and physical paper tests. Results confirmed the suitability of <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Phytolacca americana</italic></em> fibers for paper production, with certain properties showing improvement and/or maintenance over those from commercial paper. Blends of <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Phytolacca americana</italic></em> and commercial bleached <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Eucalyptus globulus</italic></em> pulp demonstrated comparable quality, suggesting the feasibility of replacing commercial fibers like <em><italic xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance">Eucalyptus globulus</italic></em> with those derived from the waste of invasive species. This approach could not only contribute to reduce monocultures and promote biodiversity, but to apply zero-waste dynamics in usually pollutant industries.</p> |
|---|---|
| ISBN: | 978-0-85014-763-6 |
| DOI: | 10.5772/intechopen.1006336 |