Impact of Three Natural Oily Extracts as Pulp Additives on the Mechanical, Optical, and Antifungal Properties of Paper Sheets Made from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Meryta sinclairii Wood Branches

Mohamed Z M Salem; Wael A A Abo Elgat; Ayman S Taha; Yahia G D Fares; Hayssam M Ali

doi:10.3390/ma13061292

Impact of Three Natural Oily Extracts as Pulp Additives on the Mechanical, Optical, and Antifungal Properties of Paper Sheets Made from Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Meryta sinclairii Wood Branches

Materials (Basel). 2020 Mar 12;13(6):1292. doi: 10.3390/ma13061292.

Authors

Mohamed Z M Salem¹, Wael A A Abo Elgat², Ayman S Taha³, Yahia G D Fares⁴, Hayssam M Ali⁵

Affiliations

¹ Forestry and Wood Technology Department, Faculty of Agriculture (EL-Shatby), Alexandria University, Alexandria 21545, Egypt.
² Restoration Department, High Institute of Tourism, Hotel Management and Restoration, Abukir, Alexandria 21526, Egypt.
³ Conservation Department, Faculty of Archaeology, Aswan University, Aswan 81528, Egypt.
⁴ Laboratory and Research, Misr Edfu Pulp Writing and Printing Paper Co. (MEPPCO), Aswan 81656, Egypt.
⁵ Botany and Microbiology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

In the pulp and paper industry, several studies have been done to improve and enhance the properties of the mechanical, optical, and antimicrobial activities of pulp produced with different additives. In the present study, pulp of wood branches (WBs) from Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Meryta sinclairii (Hook.f.) Seem. was treated with n-hexane oily extracts (HeOE) from Melia azedarach L. fruits, Magnolia grandiflora L. leaves, and Sinapis alba L. seeds as additives at concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5% based on oven-dry pulp weight. Measured mechanical properties were higher in paper sheets made from E. camaldulensis than M. sinclairii WB pulp. The highest tensile index values were observed with E. camaldulensis WB pulp treated with 5% HeOEs of S. alba (33.90 N·m/g) and M. grandiflora (33.76 N·m/g) compared to control (32.10 N·m/g); the highest tear index with 5% HeOE of S. alba (4.11 mN·m²/g) compared to control (3.32 mN·m²/g); and the highest burst index with 5% HeOE of S. alba (4.11 kPa·m²/g) compared to control (3.08 kPa·m²/g). The highest double-fold number value (9) was observed with E. camaldulensis WB pulp treated with 5% HeOEs of S. alba, M. azedarach, and M. grandiflora but with no significant difference compared to control treatment (8.33) or other HeOE treatments with E. camaldulensis WB pulp. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examination showed clear inhibition of the growth of Aspergillus terreus with WB pulp paper discs of E. camaldulensis and M. sinclairii treated with HeOEs of M. azedarach, S. alba, and M. grandiflora at 3% and 5% compared to control treatment, while HeOEs at 5% concentration showed no growth of A. niger and A. terreus. The present findings establish that the HeOEs from M. azedarach, S. alba, and M. grandiflora at 3% and 5% are novel natural products that can be used as alternatives to improve the properties and antifungal activity of WB pulp produced from E. camaldulensis and M. sinclairii.

Keywords: Eucalyptus camaldulensis; Meryta sinclairii; antifungal activity; oil additives; wood branch pulp.

Grants and funding

RSP-2019/123/King Saud University