*Department of metallurgical and materials & Electrical/Electronic Engineering, Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)
**Department of computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT)
Online published on 21 March, 2018.
The investigation on the potentials of Bamboo (Bambusa Vulgaris) stem as paper making raw material was investigated. The effort was carried out to search for raw materials to replace the presently imported long fibre pulp for the production of pulp and paper in Nigeria. Bamboo stems were manually reduced to chips of average dimensions 1–2.5cm along the grain direction and were used for pulping. 200g of chips were cooked with 1 mole, 2 moles and 3 moles concentration of NaOH respectively in an earthen pot for an average time of 1 2hours of which the pulp yield for the respective concentrations were obtained. The pulp was washed and subjected to bleaching in order to improve the brightness using sodium hypochioride solution. CaCO3 (Calcium Carbonate) was added as a filler and commercial hot water starch was also added as a sizing agent. Some physical and mechanical tests were carried out to determine the properties of the paper produced. Some of the results obtained were pulp yield — 67.5%, 55% and 40.5%; calliper thickness — 0.60mm, 0.48mm, 0.50mm; tearing strength -37.27N/rn2, 28.44N/m2 and 31.38N/rn2 hardness -1.45N/mm, 1.62N/mm and 1.82N/mm for cooking liquor of 1 mole, 2 moles and 3 moles concentration respectively. Results obtained indicated mostly that the properties of the resultant paper were enhanced as the concentration of sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) used was increased except for unbleached pulp yield which decreased as the molar concentration of the cooking chemical was increased.
Bamboo stem, Bambusa Vulgaris, pulp, paper
