Physico-chemical characterization of some Saudi lignocellulosic natural resources and their suitability for fiber production

Abstract EN

The valorization for fiber production of eight Saudi lignocellulosics : Phoenix dactylifera (surface fibers, leaflet and rachis) and wood from each of Conocorpus erectus, Leucaena leucocephala, Simmondsia chinensis, Azadirachta indica and Moringa peregrina were investigated.

Fiber length, specific gravity and chemical composition: total extractives, lignin, holocellulose and ash contents of the eight lignocellulosic materials were determined.

All the characteristics examined varied significantly due to the natural resource effect.

The three lignocellulosic materials of date palm had higher contents of total extractives, lignin and ash; and lower holocellulose content compared to those from timber trees.

Although the date palm leaflet possessed the longest fibers (1.31mm), followed by rachis (1.19mm).

Their fiber manufacturing needs more chemicals and time and some problems arise upon chemical recovery process due to their chemical composition.

The timber trees properties are more suitable for fiber products than the date palm resources although their shorter fibers.

Leucaena leucocephala was the best resource due to its high content of holocellulose (70.82%), its reasonable fiber length (1.13mm) and to its specific gravity (0.597) approaching those of other hardwoods and its low contents of total extractives (9.74%), lignin (18.86%) and ash (1.22%) compared to the other resources examined.