The utilization of tomato stalk in fiber production: NAOH and CAO pulping process
This study was conducted to explore the utilization of tomato stalk in the paper industry. Fiber morphology of the material was determined according to standard test methods and average fiber length was found to be 980 μm and the width of the fiber was 15 μm. As a result, slenderness ratio was resolved to be around 60. This was considered to be comparable fiber with the most of the hardwood species. Tomato stalks were cooked with soda and lime in a separate process. Screened pulp yield was determined to be 35-45 %. Soda pulp of tomato stalks showed good mechanical properties when temperature raised to 135ºC and low alkali concentration (10 %) and lime pulps showed properties as well as that soda pulp at 135ºC and high alkalinity ratio (30 %).