3- Results and discussion
Pulp physical properties
Agave pulp presents a high number of anomalies. Heterogeneity
of Alfa pulp is precisely detected by a photovolt. Clients are so demanding
towards homogeneity, with Alfa pulp;7 noncooked ,
References
Bertrand A. (1959) plantes grasses autres que les
cactées. Deuxième édition revue te corrigée, la
maison rustique : librairie Agricole, Horticole, Forestière et
Ménagère : 53-60.Lock, 1962.
Chaieb M. & Boukhris M. (1998); flore succincte et
illustrées des zones arides et sahariennes de Tunisie.
Cuénod A, Pottie G., Labbe A . (1954) flore de la
Tunisie; cryptogames vasculaires, Gymnospermes et Monocotylédones :
234.
Han J.S. and J.S.Rowell (1995) chemical composition of fibers,
paper and composites from agrobased resources, Rowell, Young, and Rowel , eds,
CRC Press, Inc.
Lock G.W. (1962) thirty years's sisal research in Tanzania
Longmans, Breen and Coltd.
Msahli (2002) étude du potentiel textile des fibres
d'Agave Americana L., thèse pour l'obtention du titre de Docteur en
sciences d'ingénieur an ENSITM.
Pfaffli I, Sisco M., (1995). fiber Atlas Identification of
Papermarketing Fibers. Springer: 290-299.
SNCPA (2007) rapoort mensuel de la société
nationale de cellulose et de papier Alfa Kasserine, Tunisie.
Tlili A. (2007) Caractérisation de l'Agave americana L.
et étude de sa transformation en pâte à papier. Projet de
fin d'études pour l'obtention du diplôme d'ingénieur
d'état. Institut supérieur agronomique Chott-Mariem, Juin
2007.
Within time, paper becomes resistant to aging, discolour, tear
and decomposition due to several degradation agents as humidity or bacterial
attacks.
The Agave pulp is so ready to give considerable paper
quantities. It is even more efficient than Alfa pulp.
The Agave pulp humidity is about 5.59% which is less than Alfa
one 12.91%. The humidity influences on pulp efficiency. It informs about
special precautions to take during storing to avoid natural or bacterial
degradation by manipulating the optimal storage duration and controlling the
storage atmosphere parameters as humidity, aeration and temperature. It also
helps the determination of precise drying duration of paper pulp while its
preparation for industrial uses.
With fewer humidity rate, the Agave pulp is so more fit to
storing and has less drying time which allows more efficiency.
At 24°C, pH of
Tableau 1: pH pf Alfa and Agave pulp
|
pH
|
Agave
|
Alfa
|
|
Raw
|
Bleached
|
Raw
|
Bleached
|
|
Average
|
7.6
|
6.8
|
7.8
|
6.6
|
|
Maximum
|
8.2
|
|
8.6
|
|
It is recommended to keep the pulp pH near to neutrality in
order to diminish its degradation and get a better response to chemical
addicts. The Agave pulp is so well apt to paper manufacturing.
The pulp contains 0.7% of mineral ashes so much fewer than
Alfa one 1.35%. Ashes are no more than mineral residues that affects the
stability of paper characterises. Macroelements are the more harmful as does
silice for Alfa pulp. The paper surface becomes softless and inappropriate to
writing; the pen passing leaves some perforations. This problem disturbs within
impression, it leaves shining spots that doesn't respond to coloration which
leads to the product rejection. For other designations paper as filters, ashes
can cause pores collusion. Since an important amount of ashes bring down the
pulp, such few rate of Agave pulp makes it convincible.
The average á-cellulose rate of Agave pulp is about 87%
more than Alfa one (83.7%). Technically, the most reliable term in paper
industry is á-cellulose. It translates the pulp aptitude to
interventions to come since it reveals its physical and mechanical
characterises as opacity, handiness and wetness. The pulp is much suitable to
chemical manipulations (whitening and coloration) with higher
á-cellulose contain. So, Agave's pulp is considered as a reliable paper
production potential.
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