TITLE OF INVENTION: COCONUT PALM TREE LEAVES,

FAN PALM AND DATE PALM TREE LEAVES FOR HANDMADE AND MILLMADE PAPER MAKING

I. MATERIALS AND METHODS

1. Introduction of Raw Materials:

The coconut palm (also, cocoanut), Cocos nucifera, is a member of the family Arecaceae (palm family). It is the only accepted species in the genus Cocos. The term Coconut can refer to the entire coconut palm, the seed, or the fruit, which, botanically, is a drupe, not a nut. The spelling cocoanut is an archaic form of the word. The term is derived from 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish coco, meaning "head" or "skull", from the three small holes on the coconut shell that resemble human facial features.

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Plantae

Class: Monocots

Order: Arecales

Suborder: Commelinids

Family: Arecaceae

Subfamily: Arecoideae

Tribe: Cocoeae

Genus: Cocos

Species: C. nucifera

Binomial name

Cocos nucifera

Found throughout the tropic and subtropic area, the coconut is known for its great versatility as seen in the many uses of its different parts. Coconuts are part of the daily diets of many people. Coconuts are different from any other fruits because they contain a large quantity of "water" and when immature they are known as tender-nuts or jelly-nuts and may harvested for drinking. When mature, they still contain some water and can be used as seednuts or processed to give oil from the kernel, charcoal from the hard shell and coir from the Fibrous husk. The endosperm is initially in its nuclear phase suspended within the coconut water. As development continues, cellular layers of endosperm deposit along the walls of the coconut, becoming the edible coconut "flesh". When dried, the coconut flesh is called copra. The oil and milk derived from it are commonly used in cooking and frying; coconut oil is also widely used in soaps and cosmetics. The clear liquid coconut water within is a refreshing drink. The husks and leaves can be used as material to make a variety of products for furnishing and decorating. It also has cultural and religious significance in many societies that use it.

Plant

Cocos nucifera is a large palm, growing up to 30 m (98 ft) tall, with pinnate leaves 4-6 m (13-20 ft) long, and pinnae 60-90 cm long: old leaves break away cleanly, leaving the trunk smooth. Coconuts are classified into two general types: tall and dwarf. On very fertile land, a tall coconut palm tree can yield up to 75 fruits per year, but more often yields less than 30, mainly due to poor cultural practices. In recent years, improvements in cultivation practices and breeding have produced coconut trees that can yield more.

The coconut palm thrives on sandy soils and is highly tolerant of salinity. It prefers areas with a undant sunlight and regular rainfall (1500 mm to 2500 mm annually), which makes colonizing shorelines of the tropics relatively straightforward. Coconuts also need high humidity (70-80%+) for optimum growth, which is why they are rarely seen in areas with low humidity, like the southeastern Mediterranean or Andalusia, even wheie temperatures are high enough (regularly above 24'C or 75.2'F).

In the present study the chopped fibres in the size of 3 cm were received from the above said party name.

2. Proximate Chemical analysis with comparison of fibre morphological properties:

Proximate chemical analysis of the material were done converting it into powder and the dust of the material passing through 60 mesh screen was used for analysis. TAPPI standard methods were followed for the analysis. Result are recorded in Table- 1

Cocos nucifera is one of the strongest natural fibers. It exhibits even greater strength when wet. The fibre is known especially for its ability to hold shape, reduce wrinkling, and introduce a silky lustre to the fabric appearance. It is not as durable as other fibers, and so is usually used to make hand fans, mats small buckets etc. It is similar to other palms appearance. However, it can not be dyed. Because of its high molecular crystallinity, palm leaves are stiff and brittle and will break if folded repeatedly in the same place; it lacks resiliency and is low in elasticity and elongation potential. Table-1 Chemical Composition of Cocos nucifera:

3. Pulping of Cocos nucifera:

The raw materials were received in the chopped form chopped sizes of 1.0-1.50 inches. The chopped raw materials prepared for the Alkaline Peroxide & Alkaline Sulphite Pulping Methods.

(a) Alkaline Peroxide Pulping with 10%

(b) Alkaline Sulphite Pulping with 10%

[a] Alkaline Peroxide Pulping with 10% NaOH:

The cooking conditions for all these raw materials are as follows depicted in table-2

Table-2

Strength Characteristics

After washing, the fibre is beaten in laboratory valley beater. The pulp is beaten up to 300 CSF & laboratory sheets of 60 GSM are formed in hand-sheet former. The sheets are conditioned for 24 hours at 27Ό+-1 and 65% +-2 relative humidity. After conditioning, the physical strength properties were evaluated Results are recorded in Table-3

Table-3 Physical strength properties at 300 ml freeness

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The results clearly indicate that the produce pulp have good strength properties.

[B] Alkaline Sulphite Pulping with 10% Total Chemicals:

The cooking conditions for the raw material is as follows depicted in table-4

Table-4

Strength characteristics

After washing, the fiber is beaten in laboratory valley beater. The pulp is beaten up to 300 CSF & laboratory sheets of 60 GSM are formed in hand-sheet former. Also the half of the pulp was bleached with 2% of hydrogen peroxide for 30 mts at 60 degree C & laboratory sheets of 60 GSM were formed in hand-sheet former. The sheets are conditioned for 24 hours at 27' C +-1 and 65%+-2 relative humidity. After conditioning, the physical strength properties were evaluated. Results are recorded in Table - 5. Table-5 Physical strength properties at 300 ml freeness

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4. RESULTS & DISCUSSIONS:

1. Cocos nucifera contains as per Chemical analysis (Table- 1) showed that these fibres having high cellulose and low lignin content. So it could be a potential raw material for handmade paper making.

2. Laboratory studies on alkaline pulping and alkaline sulphite pulping of raw materials were recorded in Table-2 & 4. The results showed that pulps in good yield varying from 65-60% could be produced from these raw materials. However, best results with respect to strength characteristics were obtained by using 10% sodium sulphite beached with 2% hydrogen hydroxide which is presented in this paper.

3. The strength properties are recorded in table 3 & 5 showed that this fibres can alone be used for handmade paper making.

4. Further the strength properties can be improved by blending it with cotton rags / hosiery waste pulp.

5. If the availability of fibres are in abundant, the production of handmade paper with good strength properties can be possible after blending some long fibres like banana, jute etc. In terms of tensile and burst strength can be improved. II. MATERIALS AND METHODS:

FAN PALM AND DATE PALM TREE LEAVES:

(Raw material, Plant, Chemical Analysis, Pulping)

As mentioned above in detail for the Coconut palm tree leaves, and its suitability for handmade / millmade pulp and paper products, FAN PALM AND DATE PALM TREE LEAVES are also highly suitable in every aspects for Handmade, Millmade Pulp and Paper through the same process and tests.

These two Palm trees are also belonging to the Bamboo family as Coconut Palm Tree and its leaves. So these two palm trees namely FAN PALM AND DATE PALM TREE LEAVES are also included in our Patent specifications and claims for COCONUT PALM TREE LEAVES.

AND THIS INNOVATION OF FIBRE RICH COCONUT PALM TREE LEAVES, FAN PALM AND DATE PALM TREE LEAVES FOR HANDMADE, MILLMADE PAPER PULP, PAPER, PAPER BOARD ETC. ARE A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR ENVIRONMENT POLICIES, NATIONS INDUSTRIAL GROWTH, COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES, GOVERNMENTS EXPECTATIONS, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, PALM GROWERS INCOME, POLICY OF UNDP, ETC.