The Effect of Chemical Composition and Boiling Time in Kraft Method on Paper Making Based on Palm Oil Trunk (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.)

The rapid expansion of palm oil plantations in Indonesia generates significant waste, including an estimated 77.692 tons/ha of palm oil trunks. It is essential to recycling these trunks into valuable raw materials. Given their high cellulose content, palm oil trunks are promising for paper production. This study investigates the production of paper from palm oil trunks (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) using the kraft process with variations in chemical composition and boiling time. Three chemical compositions are tested, involving sodium hydroxide (NaOH), sodium sulfate (Na2SO4), and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), along with boiling times of 90, 120, and 150 min. Paper quality are analyzed through water absorption, tensile strength, grammage, and visual appearance. The optimal kraft method for water absorption and tensile strength involves a 120-minute boiling time and a chemical composition of 20% NaOH, 9% Na2S, and 4% Na2CO3, resulting in a water absorption of 59.33 mm, tensile strength of 11.26 kN/m, and a grammage of 65 g/m². Additionally, the clean, hole-free surface of the best-performing paper further validates the method's effectiveness. This study demonstrates that high-quality paper can be produce from palm oil trunks using optimal kraft process parameters, supporting sustainable waste utilization.