Effect of Altitude on Fiber Characteristics Chemical Composition and Efficiency of Eldar Pine Kraft Pulp

This research was implemented to study the effect of altitude on fiber characteristics, chemical composition and efficiency of Kraft pulp in eldar pine. Sampling was done for three altitudes of 500, 700 and 900 m in Marzanabad site. Three healthy eldar pines were cut in each elevation. Fiber maceration was followed by Franklin method while measuring the fiber characteristics was done through Image Analyzer. Chemical composition cellulose, lignin, ash and extractive material from the eldar pine were examined in accordance to TAPPI standard. Kraft pulp was produced with active alkalinity in two levels of 15% and 20% and three different time durations of 50, 70 and 90 min. Variance analysis in based on a completely randomized design, Duncan test and Factorial experiment were employed for measurement of fibers and chemical composition, comparison between the averages, and kappa number and efficiency of the pulp, respectively. Obtained results indicated 5% statistical significance in reliability level for the eldar pine from three altitudes of 500, 700 and 900 m in terms of fiber characteristics of early wood and latewood. Thereby, samples of 700 and 900 m had the highest and the lowest values, respectively. In terms of chemical composition, the eldar pine from 700 m elevation contained more cellulose in 5% reliability level whereas the sample from 900 m altitude included more lignin and extracted materials in 5% reliability level; however no difference was reported for ash contents from the three altitudes. The pulp associated with 900 m elevation seems to be more convenient to produce a more resistant bleachable pulp. Provided that an appropriate refining is done on the fibers, it will be possible to use pulp of eldar pine from 700 m altitude due to its higher efficiency to make various paper products such as carton, Kraft liner and package papers.

altitude, eldar pine, latewood, Kraft pulp, kappa number