Evaluation of pulp and paper making characteristics of Polyalthia longifolia and Butea monosperma in Makurdi, Nigeria

Fibre morphology of Polyalthia longifolia and Butea monosperma for pulp and paper production was evaluated. Three sapwood samples from top, middle and base portions were collected from P. longifolia at diameter at breast height (dbh) 0.70 m, 0.74 m and 1.10 m, and B. monosperma at dbh 1.36 m, 1.78 m and 1.80 m, respectively. The samples were macerated in equal volume of glacial acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Slides of macerated fibre were inserted unto Reichert visopan microscope; fibre properties were measured and derived indices were calculated. Fibre length, fibre diameter, lumen width and cell wall thickness of P. longifolia and B. monosperma ranged from 0.83-1.00 mm, 14.82- 23.12 µm, 8.57 - 16.18 µm, 2.86 - 5.75 µm and 0.83-1.00 mm, 13.33-22.51µm, 2.45-11.42 µm, 0.44 -4.62 µm, respectively. Runkel ratio of P. logifolia and B. monosperma ranged from 0.45 – 1.10 and 0.62-5.49, respectively. Though P. longifolia and B. monosperma can both be used for pulp and paper making. However, P. longifolia proved to be better suitable compared to B. monosperma due to its more appreciable fibre length (0.86 mm) and Runkel ratio (0.70). Conclusively, the smaller the dbh, better their suitability of the species for pulp and paper production