Bio-alkaper and peroxide-alkali delignifications of solid waste of Cymbopogon martini with Phanerochaete chrysosporium

Abstract

Palma rosa grass (Cymbopogon martini) is cultivated for palma rosa oil. The solid waste of C. martini left after steam distillation creates environmental problems. This hitherto unexploited source of fibers obtained from solid waste of C. martini can successfully be used for the production of chemical grade pulp. C. martini has low lignin and more open and looser structure, which makes it suitable for bio-pulping, which is then followed by alkaper and peroxide-alkali delignification processes. The present study reveals that steam distillation of C. martini removes oil ducts, which makes the solid waste more open and looser compared to untreated C. martini and enables the solid waste of C. martini more suitable for bio-alkaper and peroxide-alkali delignification processes by abating the mass transfer problem of HOO⁻, OH∸, and O₂∸, which is far less than C. martini without distillation. Bio-pulping process significantly decreases the energy requirement in paper industry, which has beneficial effect on the over all energy input. Since the bio-pulping process is highly specific in action and requires milder cooking conditions. The aim of bio-pulping of solid waste of C. martini is to reduce the energy requirement in the form of cooking chemicals and to improve paper strength with Phanerocheate chrysosporium, which is then followed by the non-sulphur pulping process— bio-alkaper and peroxide-alkali delignification processes.