Potential of mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) for papermaking.

Application: Mimosa could become a viable substitute for hardwood in the manufacture of writing and printing papers.

Mimosa (Albizia julibrissin) is a viable material substitute for hardwood fibers in the manufacture of fine paper. It is a fast-growing perennial plant that can be successfully grown in plantation conditions at high yields. For mimosa to be used as a source of fiber for papermaking, we need to know how mimosa responds to different pulping conditions and bleaching sequences, we also need to know how the age of the wood at harvest affects the yield and the fiber properties.

At Auburn University's Pulp and Paper Research and Education Center, researchers are carrying out experiments to determine the anatomic characteristics of fibers, the various aspects of cooking and the pulp qualities of mimosa, and the strength properties of paper made from mimosa pulp. The strength properties of pulp made from the mimosa have been shown to be comparable to the pulp obtained from sweet gum, a typical southern hardwood. Experiments have also indicated that there is some potential for cost savings associated with the ease of pulping, bleaching, and refining of the mimosa fibers. S!

Duke, Reed, Gu, and Krishnagopalan are in the Chemical Engineering Dept., 230 Ross Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849-5127. Morrison and Bransby are in Agronomy and Soils, 202 Funchess Hall, Auburn University, AL 36849. Email Duke at [e-mail].