Katima, J.H.Y.Halfani, M.R.Ntalikwa, J.W.2023-05-252023-05-251994Katima, J. H. Y., Halfani, M. R., & Ntalikwa, J. W. (1994). Pulping sisal fibres: effects of chemical concentration, Na2so3/Na2co3 ratio and fiber to chemical ratio3. Tanzania Journal of Engineering and Technology, 18(1), 107-119.URL: https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjet/article/view/236999http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12661/4020Abstract. Full text article available at https://www.ajol.info/index.php/tjet/article/view/236999This paper reports on pulping of hard fibres extracted from the leaves of agave sisalana using sodium sulphite buffered with sodium carbonate as pulping chemical. The cooking was carried out at I68C for a cooking period of 6 hours, with varying chemical concentration, sodium sulphite to sodium carbonate ratio and fibre to chemical ratio. The results show that both the pulp yield and pulp viscovity decrease with increasing chemical concentration, whereas Kappa number of pulp decreases to a limit of about 16.45. Brightness increases significantly with an increase in the ratio of Na3SO/Na2CO3. The pulp yield obtained indicated the following maximum strength indices: tensile index: 75.60/Nm/gJ, burst index: 6.05/kPa. m2/g/and tear index: 19.30/Nm2/kg). These values are higher than those reported for bleached pine kraft pulp; that is tensile index: 50.52/Nm/g), burst index: 5.77/kPam2/g/and tear index: 18.91/Nm2/kg) with a brightness of 81.0% ISO. These make sisal a promising candidate for non-wood pulping process.enPulping sisal fibreSisalChemical concentrationNa2so3Na2co3Sodium CarbonateSodium SulphiteArticle