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1. International Journal of Engineering Science Invention
ISSN (Online): 2319 – 6734, ISSN (Print): 2319 – 6726
www.ijesi.org Volume 3 Issue 4 ǁ April 2014 ǁ PP.47-53
www.ijesi.org 47 | Page
Principal Component Analysis of Alkaline Peroxide Pulping On
The Mechanical Properties Of Elaeis guineensis– AppTm
Fronds
Rachis
1,
Arniza Ghazali , 2,
Owolabi FAT, 3,
WD Wan Rosli
School of Technology Industry, Universiti Sains Malaysia.11800 PINANG
ABSTRACT: In a multivariante operation like pulp and paper processing, principal component analysis is a
method used to extract the main variation in a set of data into a few latent variables. Multivariate data analysis
and Fourier transmission Infrared FTIR spectrometry were used to determine the effect of the alkaline peroxide
charge at different liquor concentrations on the mechanical properties of oil palm frond rachis vascular bundles
OPFB. Tensile, burst and Tear indexes were the mechanical properties covered in this literature. The study
revealed that the there was a statistically significant interactions between alkaline peroxide and the three
mechanical indices while the multivariate data analysis reveals statistical relationships between handsheet
properties and the properties of the independent variables. The spectra obtained revealed that alkaline peroxide
pulping was able to effectively remove the hemicelluloses content of the raw sample while the lignin content was
drastically reduced with increase in the cooking liquor concentrations. The significant differences among the
treatments were observed using Duncan’s Multiple Range Tests (DMRT), which revealed that the cooking time
was not statistically significant at 95% probability.
KEY WORDS: Fourier transmission Infrared FTIR; Multivariate analysis; Alkaline peroxide pulping, oil
palm frond rachis vascular bundles
I. INTRODUCTION
Despite the era of computer revolution, pulp and paper sector is still facing the challenge of meeting
demand as a result of ever depleting forest resources. The irony of the development is that as the demand for
paper and paper board continue to increases, the proliferation of the industries keep growing globally. Non wood
has been the major source of paper making fibres in Asia, Africa, and Latin America[1]. With an annual growth
rate estimated to 2.8%, the global demand for the paper and paper board will gulp 40 million tons by the year
2020[2, 3].The use of non-wood as raw materials has been receiving global attention to arrest the imminent
deficiencies of wood inadequacies in meeting the alarming consumption of the paper and paper board. However
the global increasing consumption of non-wood has risen to 2.5 billion tons due to the expansion of the paper
industry [4, 5]. This has reflected in the increasing consumption rate of non-wood in Asian countries from 6.7 %
to 10.9% out of the annual global production of 73% non-wood[6].In Malaysia oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) is
one major crop that belongs to the group of nonwood fibres, with great potential as a papermaking raw
material[7]. A total of RM62 billion was reported realized by Malaysian government from palm oil export
alone[8], hence the continue justification for its sustainability. The generation of agro waste from the oil palm
plantation annually was put at 83 million tons per annum as at 2009[9]. The pulp and paper potential of the oil
palm biomass has been investigated and reported by earlier researchers [10].
Apart from the availability of raw materials for Pulp and paper production, its products is characterized
with very complex morphological and physicochemical properties which demands proper monitoring of its
process variables in order to achieve quality product. The normal routine quality control exercise is not only time
consuming, it is very laborious usually not economical. In order to overcome this tedious mission, principal
component analysis PCA has been used in a number of different pulp and paper sector as a veritable tool to
analyse, monitor and predict the effect of the cooking variables on the various pulp responses [11-13].
In pulp and paper, data analysis is very crucial and it involves most of the time, two or more parameters that are
of paramount importance to the productivity of the adopted pulping method and the expected product end use.
This trend has found good performance with the exploitation of the principal component analysis. To this end
during in the designing of the experiment, multivariate analysis provides a useful channel for assessing possible
causes and effect of observed variations. Among the properties that influence the various paper grade is the
mechanical of the fibres which connect the arrangement and the interactions of the polymers within the cell
wall[14]. Careful selection of the choice of pulping methods couple with the environmental friendliness is very

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important in pulp and paper production to forestall environmental pollution and guarantee uninterrupted
production. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) is an extension of analysis of variance used for more
than one related dependent variable which can be used in one-way, two-way and higher-order factorial designs
(with multiple independent variables)[15].The knowledge of the mechanical properties of paper reveals the
basic chemistry, morphology, and configuration of the individual fibres arrangement in paper [16]. Since the
report of the Alkaline peroxide pulping of empty fruit bunches of oil palm biomass EFB[17], there has not been
any report in the literature on the use of FTIR and principal component analysis to investigate the dominant
variables in alkaline peroxide pulping. The studies investigated the use of multivariate analysis and FTIR in
determining the effect of the underlying factors in alkaline peroxide pulping on the pulp and paper with the aim
of identifying the synergistic effect or otherwise of the underlying “underlying variables,” in the determination of
the mechanical strength of the paper during the pulping protocol with the aim to maximize the pulping process.
II. MATERIALS AND METHOD
The Oil palm frond supplied from the plantation in BalikPulau. Malaysia was processed in order to
extract the rachis. This was then air dried and kept for later use. 70g of the dried oil palm biomass was pre-
treated according to the literature[18].The pre-treated biomass was impregnated using alkaline peroxide at
various concentrations ranging from Low (1.0: 1.5; NaOH: H2O2), medium (2.0: 2.5; NaOH: H2O2) and high
(4.0: 5.0; NaOH : H2O2) concentrations. The three pulping chemical charged ratios were used at pulping
durations of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 min while keeping the reaction at constant temperature of 700
C. The pulp
biomass was pressed at 15 psi, before defibration. The impregnated material was defibrated using Sprout Bauer
refiner, and then the pulp was screened and dried. The screen yield was calculated.
Paper Characterization
The morphological properties of the paper which include kappa number (T236-om 99), Tensile strength
(T204 - 95), Burst strength (T403 –om 02), Basic weight (T401 - om), Thickness (T411 – om 89), Hand sheet
preparation (T205 – om95), Tear strength, was determined as described in TAAPI standard method [19].
FTIR spectra
FTIR spectra of the raw and pulped OPFB with respect to the pulp obtained at different chemical
charges (Low; Medium and High) materials were obtained at a resolution of 8cm-1
. The samples, were
incorporated into KBr (spectroscopic grade)and pressed intoa1mmpellet. Spectra were recorded in the
absorbance mode from 4000to 400 cm-1
using a Nicolet Magna-IR 550. Mixture of pure powdered potassium
bromide (KBr) was mixed thoroughly with the powdered-fibres of OPFB in KBr for the spectrum. Diffuse
reflectance was used with the FTIR for transfer of infrared radiation.
Biometric Statistical analysis
Multivariate data analysis was performed to study statistical relationships between mechanical
properties of the hand sheet and the effect of the independent variables in alkaline peroxide pulping using the
SPSS version 21. Duncan’s multiple range tests was carried out to compare the mean differences. These
parameters were compared between the independent and the dependent variables, while the significant
differences were set at P≤0.05.
III. RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Effect of alkaline peroxide pulping on the mechanical properties of hand sheet.
Alkaline peroxide pulping is characterized by the generation of some intermediate anions and radicals
due to their instability in the absence of stabilizing agents. Among the intermediate generated in the course of the
reaction are-perhydroxyl acid, hydroxide ions, super oxides that are very reactive. During the decomposition of
H2O2, products such as the hydroxyl radicals and superoxide anion radicals (O2͞’ 1
) are thought to cause the
oxidation of lignin structures which leads to the introduction of hydrophilic (carboxyl) groups, resulting in the
dissolution of lignin even though they also may participate in the bleaching mechanism, at least to a small extent
(Dence, 1996). H2O2 reacts readily with a variety of lignin model compounds and lignocelluloses substrate at the
alkaline PH producing low molecular weight degradation products (Gould, 1984, 1985).Table 1 shows the
multivatiant analysis between subject effect of the cooking chemicals. It has been reported that the factors
determining the mechanical properties of paper include the fibre strength, the bonding degree of the fibre
network and the strength of the bonds[20].

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alkaline peroxide and the three dependent variables while the cooking time does not show any statistical
significant at P>0.05. This is because the general reaction is alkaline dependent [21]. Although preliminary time
will be needed to start the reaction but the reaction continues as long as the intermediate generated species
remain in the system.
A one-way between-groups multivariate analysis ofvariance was performed to investigate the interactive effect
of the alkaline peroxide on the mechanical properties of the hand sheet formed Table 1.To this effect, three
dependent variables were considered namely: the tensile, the tear and the burst indices were evaluated. The
independent variables were pulping time, concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the concentration of the
sodium hydroxide. Preliminary assumption testing was conducted to check for normality, linearity, univariate
and multivariate outliers, homogeneity of variance- covariance matrices, and multi-collinearity, with no serious
violations noted. There was a statistically significant interaction between
Table 1: Tests between subject effect
Source Dependent
Variable
Type III Sum of
Squares
df Mean
Square
F Sig. Partial Eta
Squared
Corrected Model
TENSILE INDEX 3528.791a
12 294.066 10.760 .017 .970
TEAR INDEX 13.316b
12 1.110 4.247 .087 .927
BURST INDEX 11.600c
12 .967 .981 .564 .746
Intercept
TENSILE INDEX 5604.931 1 5604.931 205.079 .000 .981
TEAR INDEX 92.122 1 92.122 352.600 .000 .989
BURST INDEX 209.288 1 209.288 212.430 .000 .982
TIME
TENSILE INDEX 14.988 1 14.988 .548 .500 .121
TEAR INDEX .027 1 .027 .103 .765 .025
BURST INDEX 3.305E-005 1 3.305E-005 .000 .996 .000
H2O2
TENSILE INDEX 1.209 1 1.209 .044 .844 .011
TEAR INDEX .045 1 .045 .174 .698 .042
BURST INDEX .350 1 .350 .355 .583 .082
NaOH
TENSILE INDEX 3094.484 1 3094.484 113.224 .000 .966
TEAR INDEX 8.185 1 8.185 31.330 .005 .887
BURST INDEX 6.734 1 6.734 6.836 .059 .631
TIME * H2O2
TENSILE INDEX 149.573 1 149.573 5.473 .079 .578
TEAR INDEX .016 1 .016 .061 .817 .015
BURST INDEX .001 1 .001 .001 .981 .000
TIME * NaOH
TENSILE INDEX 1.756 1 1.756 .064 .812 .016
TEAR INDEX .114 1 .114 .435 .546 .098
BURST INDEX .016 1 .016 .017 .904 .004
H2O2 * NaOH
TENSILE INDEX 26.266 1 26.266 .961 .382 .194
TEAR INDEX .005 1 .005 .018 .899 .005
BURST INDEX .115 1 .115 .117 .750 .028
TIME * H2O2 *
NaOH
TENSILE INDEX .000 0 . . . .000
TEAR INDEX .000 0 . . . .000
BURST INDEX .000 0 . . . .000
Error
TENSILE INDEX 109.322 4 27.331
TEAR INDEX 1.045 4 .261
BURST INDEX 3.941 4 .985
Total
TENSILE INDEX 9546.248 17
TEAR INDEX 138.776 17
BURST INDEX 285.479 17
Corrected Total
TENSILE INDEX 3638.114 16
TEAR INDEX 14.361 16
BURST INDEX 15.540 16
a. R Squared = .970 (Adjusted R Squared = .880)
b. R Squared = .927 (Adjusted R Squared = .709)
c. R Squared = .746 (Adjusted R Squared = -.014)

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Means with similar letter are not significant different while Means within a column with different letters are
significantly different at P>0.05The relationship between the independent and the dependent variables was
further investigated using Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient from SPSS version 21. Preliminary
analyses were performed to ensure no violation of the assumptions of normality, linearity and homoscedasticity
(property of having equal statistical variances).Correlation result from Table 3 shows a strong positive
correlation between the three dependent variables:- the tensile, the tear and the burst indexes. While the
independent variable sodium hydroxide has high synergistic correlations with the three dependent variables, the
hydrogen peroxide has very weak antagonistic correlation with the dependent variables. According to the
literature, the mechanical and strength properties of paper reflect the intrinsic chemistry, morphology, and
structure of the individual fibres as well as the network structure of the paper.[22].Alkaline solutions of hydrogen
peroxide has been reported to partially delignify lignocelluloses and that the delignification reaction is strongly
dependent upon the alkaline pH of the reaction mixture[21], Apart from the above, internal and external
fibrillations, cogenerated fines and hydrogen bonding contribute to the strength properties of paper. [23],
IV. FTIR ANALYSIS
Changes in chemical composition due to alkaline peroxide pulping were evaluated by FTIR
spectroscopy. Figure 1 and Figure 2 shows pectra of the raw OPFB and the combined spectra of the raw and the
pulp samples at different concentrations respectively. The difference between the FTIR spectra of the raw OPFB
and OPFB fibres at different concentrations, illustrated in figs. 1 and 2, is remarkable. All samples had two main
regions of absorbance, at low (500–1,800 cm-1) and at high wavenumbers (1,900–3,500 cm-1), in agreement
with the report by [24]. The band at 3409cm ̄ 1
, 3381cm ̄ 1
, 3405cm ̄ 1
and 3401cm ̄ 1
is attributed to the O-H
stretching vibration [25]. The bands at the 2904-21cm ̄ 1
and 1426-27cm ̄ 1
are characteristics of C-H stretching
and bending of CH2 groups respectively, whereas the peaks at 1637-40cm ̄ 1
and 897cm ̄ 1
are attributed to the H-
O-H stretching vibration of the absorbed water in the carbohydrates and the C 1-H deformation vibrations of
cellulose, respectively. The absorption bands in the region of 1734.01cm ̄ 1
in the raw sample which later shift to
1733.84cm ̄ 1
at low concentrations may arise from the carbonyl (C=O) linkage in acetyl ester groups in
hemicelluloses and carbonyl aldehyde in lignin and [26]. This later disappears at both the medium and high
concentration of the charged liquor , indicating the removal of the hemicelluloses and reduction in the lignin
content of the pulp . However the peak at 1505cm ̄ 1
, 1504cm ̄ 1
,1509cm ̄ 1
, 1503cm ̄ 1
in the spectra of both the
raw and the pulp fibres, which is attributed to C=C stretching vibration in the aromatic lignin remain as residual
lignin sample[27-29].. This fact indicated that hemicelluloses and lignin were to a large degree removed after
pulping while the original molecular structure of the cellulose was maintained after the pulping.

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Fig. 1. FTIR spectra in the 4000 – 400 cm ̄ 1
region of OPFB raw Sample
Fig. 2. FTIR spectra in the 4000 – 400 cm ̄ 1
region of OPFB pulp at different concentrations Sample

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Table 3 : Summary of the FTIR Spectra result
Raw
sample (cm ̄ 1)
Low conc .(
cm ̄ 1)
Medium conc .(
cm ̄ 1)
High Conc.
(cm ̄ 1)
3409.98 3381.45 3405.26 3401.45
2921.77 2903.79 2904.20 2911 .40
2362.37 2361.31
2135.98 2138.61
1734.01 1733.84
1637.32 1640.25 1637.75 1636.98
1608.27
1598.74
1505.97 1504.88 1509.91 1503.86
1461.63 1460.64
1426.48 1427.36 1426.18 1427.50
1378.30 1376.62 1374.75 1377.04
1322.04 1321.92 1320.73 1321.90
1247.24 1246.68 1246.21 1246.25
1160.35 1164.48 1164.75 1163.77
1114.47 1113.49 1112.61
1034.63 1055.21 1054.98 1056.36
897.65 897.21 897.52
664.61 660.03 664.96
613.31 617.46 614.82
536.97 560.22
469.67
V. CONCLUSION
The study revealed that apart from the time taken for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, the
pulping time is statistically not significant at 95% confidence. The increase in the mechanical properties as
revealed from the Duncan Multiple range test is a reflection of the synergistic effect of sodium hydroxide on the
retting of the fibre to aid the penetration of the cooking chemicals. FTIR spectroscopy as a suitable tool for
characterising important chemical variations after pulping as shown in the article The spectra result further
support the possibility of achieving the same pulp quality by using the eco-friendly alkaline peroxide pulping
APP without the usual multiple impregnation that is characteristic of the alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping
APMP. FTIR spectroscopy shows the appearance and disappearance of some functional groups and also a
decrease of acetyl groups and aryl-ether groups as well as an increase of newly formed carbonyl groups.

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