Comparison of the NSSC pulp characteristics from Mazandaran wood and paper mill and rapeseed straw NSSC pulp

Rapeseed straw was collected from a cultivation farm in the vicinity of Babul, Mazandaran. Average fiber length, width, lumen diameter and cell wall thickness were measured as 860, 27.95, 18.86, and 4.42 µm respectively. Chemical components of rapeseed straw including cellulose, lignin, ash and extractives were measured as 44%, 19.21%, 6%, and 13% respectively. Optimum pulping conditions to reach the pulp yield of 66%, were selected applying chemical charge of 20% (based on Na2O), cooking temperature of 170 ºC, and cooking time of 30 min. The pulps were refined to 350 and 400 ml CSF using PFI mill. Statistical analysis showed that mechanical properties of hand sheets with the basis weight of 127 g m-2 made from rapeseed straw NSSC pulp at the freeness of 350 and 400 ml CSF exhibited better properties compared to mixed hardwood NSSC pulp to produce fluting paper.