Cocoa Pod Husk and Corn Stalk: Alternative Paper Fibres Study on Chemical Characterization and Morphological Structures

Due to a shortage of wood source fibre in paper making industrys interest to agriculture residues fibre as a potential fibre sources in this industry. In this situation, importance has been developing in the paper industry from agriculture residue that will replace the wood fibre. Cocoa pod husk and Corn stalk are agriculture residues, which is good materials for paper production. The objectives of this study are to investigate the chemical characterization and surface morphology structure of these materials. The main components of materials which are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and ash content were parameters that involved in determination of chemical characterization in this study. The determination of chemical composition was accordance to Kurshner-Hoffner approach (cellulose), Chlorine Method (hemicellulose), T 222 om-06 (lignin) and T 211 om-07 (ash content). Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface structure of materials. From results obtained, corn stalk shows the higher amount in cellulose (39%) and hemicellulose (42%) content compared to the cocoa pod husk. In addition, lower lignin content also obtained in Corn stalk (7.3%) rather than that Cocoa pod husk (14.7%). From Scanning electron microscopy images, Corn stalk and Cocoa pod husk contained abundance lignocellulosic and rough surface structure due to the untreated materials. The result either chemical characterization or surface morphology that obtained in Corn stalk and Cocoa pod husk fibre wastes can be used successfully as an alternative fibres sources in papermaking application.