ISOGOL TIMOTHY TWALEKA REG NO : 17/U/6859/CHD/PD

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN CHEMICAL AND PROCESS ENGINEERING

PRODUCTION OF PULP FOR MAKING PAPER FROM GROUNDNUT

SUPERVISOR: MR ODONG OBBO

1 1
INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM
STATEMENT
• Paper is a versatile material with many uses produced by using cellulose pulp
derived from wood and then drying them into flexible sheets.
Problem statement
The main source of cellulose for paper production is wood which is a big threat to
the environment. The paper producing companies face a challenge of
unavailability of the raw material. Tress usage is restricted as a way of preserving
the environment and on top of this trees are used to produce a wide range of
products including charcoal, electric poles and many others. The many
applications of wood as a raw material make it competitive and expensive hence
need for an alternative raw material. Groundnut shells being used as a raw
material for paper would preserve trees and provide a more effective way for use
of groundnut shells.
2 2
0BJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
Main objective
• To produce pulp from groundnut shells

Specific objectives
i. To determine the cellulose content in groundnut shells
ii. To produce paper from the pulp produced and determine its
mechanical properties.

3 3
 METHODOLOGY (CELLULOSE
CONTENT)
a) Determination of amount of extractives by solvent extraction
60ml of acetone added to 1 gram of sample A, heated at 90o C using a
hotplate for 2hours. Sample dried in oven at 105o to 110o C, a constant
weight B obtained. (A−B) = Amount of extractives
b)Determination of amount of hemicellulose
150 ml NaOH added to 1 gram of extractive free sample B and heated at
80 for 3.5 hours. Sample washed with deionized water until it Na+. This
was detected using PH paper. Sample dried in oven at 105−110 till a
constant weight c obtained. Amount of hemicellulose = (B−C)
4 4
 CONT’N
) Determination of the amount of lignin
30ml of conc Sulphric acid added to 1 gm of extractive free sample B.
sample left in ambient temperature 24hrs and boiled at 100 and using a
hot plate for 1hr. Mixture filtered and the solid residue washed using
deionized water till sulphate ion undetectable. Detection of sulphate ion
via titration using barium chloride solution. Sample dried in an oven at
105 to 110 C to a constant weight D. Amount of lignin = D
d) Determination of amount of cellulose.
Cellulose content identified from
(A−B) + (B−C) + D + E = 1g
5 5
 METHODOLOGY (PULPING)
• Groundnut shells were washed to remove dust and soil particles, crushed
into short tiny particles and later dried to reduce water content.
• 160g of dry groundnut shells weighed and placed in a development tank
• One liter of sodium hydroxide measured and placed in the development
tank.
• Cooking in the development tank was done for 5 hours with stirring
• After cooking, filtration of the mixture was done to obtain black liquor as
waste that contains the cooking chemical.
• After filtration ,washing was done until the Ph became neutral
• The pulp was placed under the sun to dry and the pulp yield was obtained.
6 6
RESULTS (CELLULOSE CONTENT)
• Composition analysis for groundnut shells

Cellulose 35.7 %
Hemicellulose 25.7%
Lignin 27.4%

extractives 11.2%

The percentage composition of the groundnut shells is 35.7% cellulose, 25.7%

pulp yield , 69%

Thickness grammage Tensile Tear strength

Rota trim 0.05 80 533.78 1631.85250

8 8
DISCUSSION OF RESULTS
• The paper thickness varies for the different papers and from observations, this is
brought about by the amount of pulp that is dispersed in the basin during the paper
formation process using the handmade mold and deckle. The more the pulp, the more
the fibers that will be suspended in the water and the thicker will the paper formed.
• The paper thickness and the paper grammage, there is a direct relationship between
the variation of the thickness and that of the paper grammage for the papers tested.
This implies that since the same area was cut and weighed for the different papers, the
cause in variation is due to the weight of the cut papers which was directly
proportional to the thickness of the paper. This makes the paper grammage to be
directly proportional to the paper thickness
• The strength properties of paper are corrected to the inter fiber bonding. The fiber
strength is directly proportional to cellulose content for fiber pulp by cooking process.

9 9
conclusion and recommendation

conclusion
• Paper was successfully produced from groundnut shells and therefore
groundnut shells can be used as a raw material for paper making.
• With no additives like starch, the paper tear and tensile strength will depend a
lot on the thickness of the paper which in turn depend on the amount of pulp
used during the paper formation from the pulp as the pulp is dispersed in the
water
recommendations
• Groundnut shells should be used for paper production instead of burning them
off so as to increase their value, reduce on the air pollution due to the burning
and to conserve trees which are the major raw materials of paper production.
10 10
Thank you

11 11