PEMBUATAN DAN KUALITAS KARTON DARI CAMPURAN PULP TANDAN KOSONG KELAPA SAWIT DAN SLUDGE INDUSTRI KERTAS

Abstract

Small-scale paperboard industries in Indonesia are currently faced with the difficulty in procurement continuity of fibrous raw material (particularly pulp and waste paper). On the other hand, empty oil-palm bunches (EOPB) are abundant as waste from palm-oil processing and those ligno-cellulosic fiber stuffs have not been utilized effectively, hence suggesting their potential use for those paperboard industries.Related with such, the EOPB after being chipped has been experimentally pulped using hot soda semi-chemical process in the semi-pilot scale closed (pressurized) digester designed by the Center for Forest Product Research and Development, Bogor employing the cooking conditions: 10% alkali (NaOH) concentration, 1: 5.5 ratio of EOPB chips Oto cooking liquor, maximum temperature at 120 C kept for 2 hours under 1.2 - 1.5 atmosphere pressure. The process afforded the EOPB pulp yield at 60.17%, kappa number 38.17, and alkali consumption 9.81%. Further, paperboard sheet was formed in a small-scale paperboard industry, from the mixture of 50% EOPB pulp and 50% paper-mill sludge; and from 100% EOPB pulp, each incorporating the additives (i.e. 5% kaolin filler, 2% alum retention, 4% tapioca binder, and 2% rosin size).Physical properties of paperboard from 100% EOPB pulp and from its mixture with paper-mill sludge (50% : 50%, respectively) were better than those produced by the small-scale industry traditionally using the mixture of 50% sludge and 50% waste paper without additives. This suggests the prospective use of EOPB pulp mixed with sludge, as alternative/substitute raw material in the paperboard industry that uses waste paper.