This paper tries to enlarge existing knowledge on the morphology and chemical composition of Mexican sugarcane bagasse carrying out a morphological and chemical analysis of the main fractions, ®ber bundles and pith, consisting of vessels and parenchyma. The cell dimensions of the two fractions were determined as well as their chemical composition. Morphology as well as chemical composition of the two fractions are different. Average length of ®bers was higher than 1 mm and the ratio ®ber length: ®ber diameter was the highest of all cell types investigated in this paper. Fibers had a high cell wall thickness which contributes to the stability of these tissue elements. On the other hand, the parenchyma cells were very short with a fairly high diameter and a thin cell wall. Such structure has a negative impact on the papermaking properties of bagasse. Chemical analysis of the two fractions revealed that ash content and hot water extractives of the pith fraction is much higher than for the ®ber bundles. Morphologie and chemische Zusammensetzung der Mark-and Faserfraktion von mexikanischem ZuckerrohrDieser Beitrag soll die Kenntnis der Morphologie und der chemischen Zusammensetzung der Mark-und Faserfraktion von mexikanischem Zuckerrohr erweitern. Zwei Hauptfraktionen wurden untersucht. Die eine bestand aus Faserbu Èndeln, die andere (``pith'') bestand aus Gefa Èûen und Parenchymzellen. An diesen wurden die Zelldimensionen gemessen und chemische Analysen durchgefu Èhrt. Die mittlere La Ènge der Fasern betrug etwas u Èber 1 mm und das Verha Èltnis von Faserla Ènge zu Zellwanddicke war hier am ho Èchsten. Die Fasern wiesen relativ dicke Zellwa Ènde auf, was zur Stabilita Èt dieses Gewebes beitra Ègt. Die Parenchymzellen waren dagegen sehr kurz mit relativ groûen Durchmessern und du Ènnen Zellwa Ènden. Der Aschegehalt und der Heiûwasser-Extrakt ist erwartungsgema Èû ho Èher als in der Faserfraktion. Die gemessenen Zelldimensionen sind nicht gu Ènstig fu Èr die Papiereigenschaften.

Fluorinated thin layers were created on CTMP sisal and filter paper surfaces by using pentafluorophenyldimethylsilane (PFPDMS) under RF-plasma conditions. Surface wettability and water absorption of unmodified and modified samples of both materials were evaluated through contact angle and Cobb test techniques, respectively. The mechanical strength and optical properties were also analyzed. The surface functional groups produced were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Electron Spectroscopy for Chemical Analysis (ESCA) and Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform infrared (ATR FT-IR) spectroscopy. Surface morphological changes after plasma treatment were evaluated using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). PFPDMS-plasma treatment of sisal CTMP reduced water absorption from more than 400 , and after PFPDMS-plasma treatment it was 134. Strength properties were slightly reduced in some cases and brightness was reduced in most of the trials, turning to yellow. ATR FT-IR and ESCA spectroscopy indicated a fluorinated aromatic surface, whereas AFM and SEM showed a smooth surface coating for both sisal and filter paper after PFPDMS-plasma treatment. A fully coated surface with a very high hydrophobic character was observed. This new property can be attributed to the formation of a crosslinked polymer network of covalently bound PFPDMS-based units on the paper surface as shown by the presence of CASi, CAOASi, CACF x , and CAF bonds.

Resumen En este trabajo se estudia el proceso de hidratación en fibra modificada por el proceso de reciclado. Para ello se emplea pulpa kraft de primer ciclo (muestra A) y se compara con fibra kraft del ciclo n (muestra B). Ambas fibras por separado se someten a proceso de hidratación. Posteriormente las muestras A y B se mezclan al 50 %, generando una mezcla fibrosa para la estructuración de una nueva hoja de papel. Como factores de respuesta se determina: resistencia a la tensión, elongación, absorción de energía de tensión y valor de retención de agua (g agua /g fibra). La hidratación se realiza con agua, hidróxido de sodio y dosificación de dos agentes de tensión superficial con carácter hidratante. En agua la mezcla de fibras alcanza su máxima capacidad de absorción (1,2 g agua /g fibra) en 18 h, en solución alcalina (1,4 g agua /g fibra) en 15 h y con agentes de tensión superficial este máximo (1,3 g agua /g fibra) se alcanza en 1 h.

ResumenSe propone un método para separar la fibra de los componentes principales del envase de cartón para líquidos y para evaluar las ventajas y desventajas del empleo de esta materia prima como fuente de fibras secundarias en la fabricación de papel. La resistencia mecánica del envase postconsumo se reduce por hidratación utilizando NaOH. Este proceso destruye los puentes de hidrógeno que unen fibra-fibra. El procedimiento permite rescatar 92% de fibra existente en el envase, por ello este material se ubica como potencial alternativa de fuente de fibra secundaria para la fabricación de papel. El material recuperado registra un alto contenido de material adhesivo (stickies), aunque es factible reducir esta cantidad a niveles que permiten su utilización en la fabricación de papel. AbstractA new method is proposed for separating fiber material from the main components of cartonboard commonly used for storing liquids and for evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of this material as fiber sources for paper manufacture. The mechanical resistance of the cartonboard has been reduced by hydration using NaOH to accelerate the process. This process destroys hydrogen bonding that joint fiber-fiber. The process allows recovering 92% of the existing fiber in the carton packaging , which makes this material a potential alternative as fibber source for the manufacture of paper. The recovered material contains a high quantity of stickies, although it is possible to reduce this amount to levels that allows using the recovered fiber in paper manufacture.

ResumenEste trabajo presenta una alternativa de uso industrial del pinzote (centro leñoso del racimo de banano) como fuente de fibra para la estructuración de papel. El pinzote se considera residuo agroindustrial en los países productores de banano, material que representa el 2.8 % del racimo en la variedad de Musa balbisiana y el 4.4 % en la de Musa acuminata. Por sus características similares a la del bagazo caña de azúcar, se utilizó un proceso químico similar al empleado para obtener fibras a partir de este material. El proceso de obtención de fibras se llevó a cabo de acuerdo a un diseño experimental factorial, diseño que permite relacionar variables las independientes (tiempo de cocción, concentración de reactivo) en cuatro niveles con variables independientes (rendimiento, consumo de reactivos, rechazo y lignina residual). El pinzote de Musa acuminata requiere menor temperatura y reactivo para liberar las fibras con respecto al pinzote de Musa balbisiana. Por lo tanto, el rendimiento en fibra para Musa acuminata es mayor al de Musa balbisiana. Palabras claves: pinzote, lignina, tiempo de cocción, Musa acuminata, Musa balbisiana RACHIS of Muse balbisiana and Muse acuminata as Source of Fibers for Paper Structure AbstractThis work presents an alternative of industrial use of the banana rachis (the woody center of the cluster of bananas), as source of fibers for the structure of paper. Banana rachis is considered to be an agroindustrial residue in producing countries of banana it represents 2.8 % of the cluster of Muse balbisiana and 4.4 % of the cluster of Muse acuminata. The physical and chemical structure of the rachis is almost simliar to that of the sugar cane so a chemical process similar to that employed to obtain fibers from the sugar bagasse cane was used. An experimental factorial design that allows the correlation of independent variables (cooking time, reagent concentration) in four levels with response parameters (yield, reagents consumption, rejects and residual lignin) was adopted. The rachis of Muse acuminata needs lower temperature and less reagent consumption to liberate fibers in comparison with the rachis of Muse balbisiana. Therefore yield of the fibbers from Musa acuminata is major than that of the fibbers from Musa balbisiana.