Kenaf as Pulp for Paper Making

One of the main product that can be derived from Kenaf is in producing high quality specialty papers. The decorticated bark and core from the kenaf stem can be used to produced pulps. The pulps has properties that is comparable to those produced from wood. The fiber offers the strength factor while the core provides the surface characteristics. In terms of process, Kenaf as pulp has many advantages as it does not require high energy consumption and also less chemical usage. By using Kenaf also, cost and labour will be reduced compared to the process of making pulp from wood.

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Advantages of Kenaf

Kenaf fibers also have many advantages compared to synthetic fibers. Compared to synthetic fibers, Kenaf requires much less energy. Natural fibers are produced by solar energy while Carbon fibers require a great deal of energy to be produced since its processing temperature can exceed 1200°C and 3000°C respectively.

Other advantages of Kenaf according to USDA are as follows:-
1. Rapid growth: Kenaf reaches 12-18 feet in 150 days
2. High yield: Kenaf also yields more fiber per acre. According to Australia's CSIRO, Kenaf yields can be 3 times the yields for Hemp. An area of 1-acre (4,000 m2) of Kenaf produces 5 to 8 tonnes of raw plant bast and core fiber in a single growing season.
3. Exceptional papermaking characteristics: Less chemicals, heat and time are required to pulp kenaf fibers because they are not as tough as wood pulp and contain less lignin. Lignin is a resin that binds the cellulose fibers in plants or trees together. Toxic chemicals such as chlorine are predominantly used to delignify and bleach wood pulp. Kenaf can be quickly and easily pulped and bleached with harmless chemicals, such as hydrogen peroxide.(source: USDA)

Kenaf Industry in Japan

The Kenaf industry in Japan is very much substantial. Among the associations that involved in promoting kenaf in Japan is the Japan Kenaf Association and the Non-wood paper promotion association. The associations have mainly increased the awareness of the usage of Kenaf in the industry. In this country also, most of the paper companies have used Kenaf as their raw materials in producing papers. This are due to the fact of the scarcity of trees in Japan and therefore they need to obtain alternatives.

Recent development in Japan are the NEC Corporation (NEC) and UNITIKA LTD. (UNITIKA) joint development of bioplastic reinforced with kenaf fiber. This collaboration is expected to contribute greatly to environmental measures for mobile phones. NTT DoCoMo, Inc. (NTT DoCoMo) is already using this new material in the entire casing of its new FOMA(TM) "N701iECO" mobile phone, which it launched on the Japanese market on March 10, 2006.(source: JCN Newswire)

Kenaf industry in USA

The Kenaf industry in USA is developing at slow rapid pace. This is due the facts that there is a decline in the amount of money allocated to Kenaf research by the government for reasons of budget restrictions and food security issues. However, even with the lack of finding, many researchers have done several intensive research with Kenaf. About 10,000 acres of Kenaf are grown in the year 2000 in various areas in USA. Among companies that are actively using Kenaf as their raw materials are KP Products Inc. doing business as Vision Paper, Kafus Industries, Cameco Industries Inc. Kenaf International, ANAKL, DBM Farms, and the Delta Fiber operation.

Kenaf Global Producers

In 1990, major producers for Kenaf were China with 57%, India with 21% and also Thailand with 15%. However, in recent years there major shift in global production. China and Thailand suffered major declines in production to 26% and 10% respectively. The reduction was due to the decline demands. This factor is due to the replacement of synthetic fiber in the usage of gunny, rope and carpet backing productions that was once use Kenaf fiber as their raw materials.

China's jute and kenaf output, 1987 to 1998
Year Area Output
..........1000 hectares 10 000 tonnes
1987 - 344Ha.................. 55.8tonnes
1988 - 277Ha.................. 53.1tonnes
1989 - 286Ha .................65.8tonnes
1990 - 300Ha................. 72.6tonnes
1991 - 270Ha.................. 51.3tonnes
1992 - 277Ha.................. 61.9tonnes
1993 - 274Ha.................. 67.2tonnes
1994 - 176Ha...................35.5tonnes
1995 - 146Ha...................37.1tonnes
1996 - 146Ha ..................36.5tonnes
1997 - 162Ha.................. 43.0tonnes
1998 - 140eHa............... 35etonnes

Kenaf Multipurpose Usage

Kenaf plants is known to have many multipurpose usage. Its stem can be processed into products such as decorticated fiber, pelleted core, mesh core, short fiber, long fiber, water retted fiber to name a few. In retting processes, the strong bark strands is separated from the stem through natural bacteria process either through dew retting or water retting. This semi-processed materials can then be applied as raw materials in sectors such as furnitures, construction & housing, composites, automotive, aerospace and many more.

What is Kenaf?

Kenaf is Jute-like plant from the hibiscus family (Hibiscus Cannabinus) and have many multipurpose usage from its seed to its stem. Hibiscus cannabinus is probably native to southern Asia although its exact natural origin is unknown. However, based on the world producers of Kenaf, countries that produces Kenaf mostly comes from the East Asia region. It's stem can be processed into core and fibers. These core and fibers are mostly used by many industries and applications as a semi-processed materials.