Residual Grade and Waste Abaca Fibers as Reinforcement for Packaging and Printing/Writing

Papers from Recycled Fiber

Department of Science and Technology (DOST)

Forest Products Research and Development Institute (FPRDI)
Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines

Erlinda L. Mari*, Cesar O. Austria, Adela S. Torres, and Emmanuel P. Domingo

Fiber dimensions of residual grade abaca (tow grade) and waste abaca fibers (tuxy and stripping
wastes) were measured. The fibers were found extremely long with thin cell walls. Fiber
slenderness or felting point, flexibility, Runkel, and Muhlsteph ratios all indicate suitability for
papermaking. Soda-pulping of the fibers, tow, and Tx80Sw20 (i.e., tuxy and stripping waste fibers
combined at 80:20) at NaOH charges of 8, 10, and 12%, yielded tow pulp twice greater than
Tx80Sw20 pulp. Beating evaluation of tow-grade fiber pulped at 8% NaOH and the corresponding
handsheet tests showed that acceptable beating time is 15–30 min. The Tx80Sw20 blend, on the
other hand, already had a low freeness of only 227 mL and thus needed no further beating. The
pulps were used as reinforcement for the production of papers from recycled or secondary fibers.
The 80:20 blends of tow and Tx80Sw20 pulps were used to replace 3–10% levels of old corrugated
cartons (OCC) to produce packaging paper, or mixed office wastes (MOW) to produce
printing/writing paper. Results of tests on the handsheets produced significant improvement in
strength properties, even at low levels of 3–5% of reinforcement.

1. What has been done?

Handsheets were produced from residual grade and waste abaca fibers and were found to have
significant improvement in their strength properties, even at low levels of 3-5% of reinforcement.

2. What has not been done?

Abaca production wastes that were used were only the tuxy and tow.

3. What needs to be done?

There should be research about potential uses of other wastes from the production of Musa
Textilis Nee.
Nutrient Composition of Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) at Seedling, Vegetative, and Flagleaf Stages
of Growth

R. B. Armecin

This study was carried out through destructive sampling in which sample plants were partitioned
as root, pseudostem, and leaf tissues for the determination of macro- and micronutrients present
in the sample. Essential elements were analyzed following standard protocol. Regardless of the
stage of growth of the plant, K ion dominates in the pseudostem tissue, which is also associated
with the high concentration of this particular element in the harvested fiber. Among the
micronutrients, Fe and Zn dominate in the root tissue. K and Fe were found to be the dominant
macro- and microelements present in the fiber, respectively, which pose a potential risk to
nutrient depletion due to crop removal.

1. What has been done?

Sample plants were partitioned as root, pseudostem, and leaf tissues for the determination of
macro- and micronutrients present in the sample. Essential elements were analyzed following
standard protocol.

2. What has not been done?

Macro and micronutrients in the sap was not determined.

3. What needs to be done?

Macro and micronutrients in the sap should be determined.

Chemical Composition and Pulp Properties of Abaca (Musa textilis Nee) cv. Inosa Harvested at
Different Stages of Stalk Maturity

Luz O. Moreno and Calixto M. Protacio

National Abaca Research Center, Visayas State University, Baybay City, Leyte, 26521A
Philippines, Department of Horticulture, Crop Science Cluster, College of Agriculture, University
of the Philippines Los Baños, College, Laguna, 4031 Philippines

Given the increasing global demand for pulp, there is a need to look into the prospects of
increasing fiber production and shortening the harv esting cycle of abaca without sacrificing the
quality of fibers for pulp pr oduction. This study investigated the chemical and pulp properties of
abaca cv. Inosa fibers harvested at different stages of stalk maturity to determine their suitability
for pulp and paper production. Fibers obtained from 8-10-month-old (immature) abaca cv. Inosa
possessed the desirable chemical properties for pulping, namely; low lignin and ash content, high
alpha-cellulose, holocellulose and hemicellulose contents; which are comparable with those
obtained from intermediate and mature stalks. The average pulp yield, Kappa number, viscosity,
tear index and breaking length of pulps from immature stalks were already comparable with those
of mature fibers and were even higher than the mature fibers of Linawaan and Laylay cultivars.
Fibers of abaca cv. Inosa obtained from immature stalks were thus, found suitable for pulp and
paper production.

1. What has been done?

This study investigated the chemical and pulp properties of abaca cv. Inosa fibers harvested at
different stages of stalk maturity to determine their suitability for pulp and paper production.
Fibers of abaca cv. Inosa obtained from immature stalks were thus, found suitable for pulp and
paper production.

2. What has not been done?

The chemical composition and properties of abaca (Musa Textilis Nee) sap was not investigated
during any stages of its maturity.

3. What needs to be done?

The chemical composition and properties of abaca (Musa Textilis Nee) sap should be investigated
and compared with every stage of its maturity.
 The Role of Abaca (Musa textilis) in the Household Economy of a Forest Village

Celeste Lacuna-Richman
Faculty of Forestry,
University of Joensuu,
PL 111, Joensuu, Finland 80101

Abaca (Musa textilis) is a plant related to the banana, the leaves of which provide some of the
strongest natural fibres used by man. It is indigenous to the Philippines, and grows well
particularly in the provinces of Bicol, Samar and Leyte. Abaca is also one of the few cash crops
that can grow with relatively little input compared to other crops, in steep forest areas. For this
reason, it is often the crop of choice of households living in villages at the forest edge. The role of
abaca in the household economy of villagers in Leyte is described. The study shows that abaca is
both an important secondary income source of households with lowland farms, and frequently
the only source of cash income of the poorest households in the community. The implications of
abaca’s niche in the village economy, on increasing production of the crop, are discussed.

1. What has been done?

The study shows that abaca is both an important secondary income source of households with
lowland farms, and frequently the only source of cash income of the poorest households in the
community. The implications of abaca’s niche in the village economy, on increasing production of
the crop, are discussed.

2. What has not been done?

The study focused only on the importance of abaca’s fibres on household businesses and failed
to explore the other potential uses and importance of abaca (Musa Textilis Nee) specifically the
wastes produced during production.

3. What needs to be done?

The study should explore the other potential uses and importance of abaca (Musa Textilis Nee)
specifically the wastes produced during production in order to help with the development of
industries using abaca fibers.
 FIBER CROPS PROGRAM AREA RESEARCH PLANNING AND PRIORITIZATION

CORAZON T. ARAGON

The fiber crops industry is one of the country's major pillars in employment generation and
foreign exchange earnings. However, recent trade developments and local production problems
in the fiber crops industry might affect its long-term sustainability and viability. The reduction of
trade barriers under the GATT-WTO implies that in order for the Philippines to be globally
competitive, the country must exert all efforts to increase the productivity of Philippine fiber
crops, lower the cost of production, and improve the quality of fiber and fiber products through
technological developments.

In recent years, the Philippines' position as the top producer of abaca is being threatened by the
increasing share of Ecuador in the world market. Abaca farmers in Ecuador are mechanizing and
producing consistent quality fibers. Unless the weaknesses and threats in the abaca industry are
faced, the country's market share in the world market for abaca fiber will continue to diminish.

This paper, therefore, aims to present an industry profile with focus on domestic production,
consumption, external trade, problems/constraints, and market potentials; review past
researches on fiber crops, technologies generated, and the extent of participation of the private
and public sectors; identify research and technology gaps for the fiber crops industry; identify
strengths and weaknesses in the institutional structure of research and extension interface, as
well as research complementation efforts; and suggest recommendations and R & D agenda for
the fiber crops industry.

1. What has been done?

This paper presented an industry profile with focus on domestic production, consumption,
external trade, problems/constraints, and market potentials; review past researches on fiber
crops, technologies generated, and the extent of participation of the private and public sectors;
identify research and technology gaps for the fiber crops industry; identify strengths and
weaknesses in the institutional structure of research and extension interface, as well as research
complementation efforts; and suggest recommendations and R & D agenda for the fiber crops
industry.

2. What has not been done?

The study served its purpose in showing the research expenditure allocation across fiber crop
which was highly incongruent with their economic contribution.

3. What needs to be done?

Researches to increase productivity of the major fiber crops and diversify their uses must be
continuously pursued and funded owing to the low productivity of these commodities and
incomes of fiber crop-producing households.