FIBRE CHARACTERISTICS AND CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PANICUM MAXIMUM (GUINEA GRASS) BIOMASS FOR PACKAGING PAPER PRODUCTION

With a rising demand for eco-friendly alternatives to wood for pulp and paper production, Panicum maximum (Guinea grass) shows promise due to its fast growth, high biomass yield, and climate adaptability. This study assessed the plant’s morphological and chemical suitability. Fibre analysis revealed suitable average fibre length, diameter, lumen width and thickness of the cellular layer (0.85 mm, 9.723 µm, 3.258 µm and 6.465 µm) for the leaf blade, (0.95 mm, 11.978 µm, 5.159 µm, 6.819 µm) for the midrib and (1.321 mm, 14.648 µm, 5.798 µm, 8.815 µm) for the stalks. Fibre indices, such as slenderness ratio, Luce’s shape factor, and solids factor, indicated good fibre elasticity and collapse potential, favorable for papermaking. Chemical analysis showed suitable composition of 37% cellulose, 25.05% hemicelluloses, and 16.56% lignin, though high caustic soda solubility and ash content suggest low pulp yield. While suitable for general paper production, the high Runkel and rigidity ratios suggest the resulting paper would be stiff, making it ideal for packaging applications.