GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

Production of pulps from non-woody materials of agricultural waste available in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria was the focal point to the study. The pulps were produced from corn maize (Zea mays) and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical) straws. The chemical properties of these local raw materials and their suitability for production of pulps for the paper industry, especially in the production of handmade and tissue papers were evaluated. Thousands of tons of these agricultural materials are readily available in Nigeria annually, and presently are waste materials. The intermediate papermaking raw materials (pulps) were prepared by appropriate methods and used together with suitable chemical additives in preparing the paper stock for producing handmade paper and the tissue. The digester for pulping, hand mold and other papermaking accessories were designed and fabricated locally, and finally different hand sheets and tissues of different grammage were made using the hand mold and evaluated for their physical and mechanical properties. The results indicated that the pulps derived from corn maize (Zea mays) and sponge gourd (Luffa cylindrical) straws possess suitable fiber qualities for paper production. The physical tests, including tensile strength, burst strength, and tear resistance, demonstrated that the handmade paper and tissue produced meet industry standards for basic applications. The study concludes that by embracing this innovative approach, Akwa Ibom State can position itself as a leader in sustainable pulp production, driving long-term benefits for its people, economy, and environment. One of the recommendation was that more research should be carried out on the sample to find out how this non-wood material can be used to replace woody material since the process and the cost of afforestation is high.

Keyword: Production, Pulp, Non-woody materials, Agricultural waste, Handmade, Tissue papers, Akwa Ibom State.