Evaluation of the potential of tobacco stalk pulp to substitute hardwood pulp for tobacco sheet preparation

Abstract

Tobacco stalk, which has high cellulose and hemicelluloses content, is considered to be a potential raw material for the pulp and paper industry. The objectives of this study have been to evaluate the possibility of producing chemical pulp from tobacco stalk through the soda pulping process, and utilize the tobacco stalk pulp to substitute hardwood pulp during tobacco sheet production. The results showed that high sodium hydroxide (NaOH) loading (about 25% on mass of tobacco stalk) was generally required to produce pulp from tobacco stalk with high strength properties. Moreover, the results of fibre morphology analysis indicated that the diameter of tobacco stalk was similar to that of hardwood pulp. The obtained tobacco stalk pulp can substitute all hardwood pulp, while still maintaining the tensile strength and bulk during the preparation of reconstituted tobacco handsheet. Thus, the production of soda pulp from tobacco stalk to replace hardwood pulp for the preparation of reconstituted tobacco sheet could be a viable option to improve the sustainability of the tobacco industry.