The sustainable development of lignocellulose fibers exhibits significant potential to supplant synthetic polymer feedstocks and offers a global platform for generating sustainable packaging, bioplastics, sanitary towels, wipes, and related products. The current research explores the dynamics of fiber production from wood, non-wood, and agro-residues using carbonate hydrolysis and a mild kraft process without bleaching agents. With respect to carbonate hydrolysis, high yield, and good coarseness fibers are attained using a simple, low-cost, and ecofriendly process. Fibers produced using a mild kraft process have lower Klason lignin, carboxyl content, surface charges, and higher fiber length, and crystallinity. Eucalyptus fibers show the highest crystallinity while softwood carbonate fibers show the lowest crystallinity. Hemp hurd fibers contain the highest concentration of hard-to-remove water, and thus, suffer maximum flattening visualized by the microscopic images. The relatively high yield sustainable fibers with versatile properties can provide a significant economic benefit since fiber is the dominant cost for producing various bioproducts to meet society's current and future needs.
Keywords: bamboo; carbonate hydrolysis; green chemistry; hemp; high‐kappa kraft pulping; sustainable fibers.
© 2020 The Authors. Published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.