The Effect of Different Concentration of NaOH on Mechanical Properties of Allium sativum L. Peels Thin Sheet Paper

Abstract

Allium sativum L. peels were used as raw material to obtain cellulosic pulps for paper making. The peels were treated with sodium hydroxide at different concentrations (5%, 12.5%, and 20%) before the paper production. The sheets were measured for weight and thickness and evaluated for tensile, tear and bursting strength. The chemical compositions of the peels were analysed. The results indicated that the peels are suitable for papermaking due to the appropriate contents of cellulose (37.22%), hemicellulose (35.21%) and lignin (9.96%) values. The colour of the sheets varies from dark to light brown when the amount of sodium hydroxide solution was increased. It was estimated that the weight of peels was in the range of 5.0 - 6.5 % of garlic clove. All the sheet samples have uniform weight and thickness. The results showed that increasing sodium hydroxide concentration from 5% to 20% decreased tensile and bursting strength, except tearing strength. Two kinds of microscopic observations showed that peels treated with the highest sodium hydroxide concentration had a fine and thin layer of binder within the fibres. The sheets appear to be transparent with due to a decrease in the tensile and bursting strength except for the tear strength.