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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Concerns on the expanding infestation of several Acacia species in the southern Mediter-
ranean European countries have triggered an ever-growing requirement for costly targeted control
actions. Valorizing biomass waste produced could help promote and better finance these actions.
For that purpose, wood wastes from invasive control actions were tested regarding their pulp and
paper potential, aiming to entice cellulose industries to partake in future conservation actions. Wood
waste from the five most pervasive Acacia species was studied (Acacia dealbata Link, Acacia longifolia
Willd, Acacia mearnsii De Wild, Acacia melanoxylon R.Br, and Acacia saligna Labill) regarding physical
and chemical characteristics, and a central composite design was used to optimize alkali charge and
reaction temperature on pulping yield and delignification. Bleached kraft pulps were produced with
each species’ optimized conditions and for an equitable mixture of all species. Optimized pulp yields
(52.6%–53.5%) and pulp polymerization degree (2867–3690) of Acacia species were higher than those
of Eucalyptus globulus Labill (used as reference). Optimized bleached pulps were refined and fiber,
pulp, and handsheet properties determined. Acacia dealbata and A. longifolia presented high specific
wood consumption and lower handsheet strength properties, pointing to overall lower pulping
potential, while A. melanoxylon and A. mearnsii characteristics were equal to or higher than those of
E. globulus. A. saligna pulp and handsheet characteristics appear more suited for tissue paper. The
Acacia mixture achieved acceptable characteristics, enabling the indiscriminate use of Acacia wood
regardless of the species. As a shortcoming, the Acacia pulps showed the worst optical characteristics,
with brightness dropping substantially with beating (64%–76%) when compared to E. globulus (81%).
Description
Keywords
Acacia dealbata Acacia longifolia Acacia mearnsii Acacia melanoxylon Acacia saligna kraft pulping response surface methodology wood characteristics fiber characteristics handsheet properties
Pedagogical Context
Citation
Neiva, D.M.; Godinho, M.C.; Simões, R.M.S.; Gominho, J. Encouraging Invasive Acacia Control Strategies by Repurposing Their Wood Biomass Waste for Pulp and Paper Production. Forests 2024, 15, 822. https://doi.org/10.3390/f15050822
Publisher
MDPI