**3. Papermaking potential of OPEFB fibre**

The utilisation of empty fruit bunches (EFB) of *E. guineensis* is more than an act of environmental friendliness. It is a means to create job and wealth. In order to transform the massive biomass waste generated during oil palm processing into a resource with industrial utility, a viable and sustainable area of utilisation is desirable. The pulp and paper industry becomes the inevitable destination, presenting itself as a veritable option for productive utilisation.

Moreover, substituting the lignocellulosic material of the fast diminishing wood resource with biomass of non-wood plant of various diversity, takes the burden off the forest, while at the same time, supporting natural biodiversity. Thus, using EFB of oil palm for papermaking ameliorates waste management challenges associated with its disposal. In the words of reference [17], every 5 tons of EFB gives 1 ton of pulp for papermaking. Therefore, the oil palm industry is now at the stage of seeking more value-added products, not only from oil and kernel, but also from its biomass. EFB of oil palm is now regarded as a potential feedstock to produce a variety of renewable and valuable biofuel and bio-based chemicals that can be derived from sugar, cellulose and lignocellulose, using furfural [18]. Hence, there is increasing ample opportunity to convert the available lignocellulosic biomass residues into pulp and paper, paperboard, medium density fibreboard (MDF) and other composites [19].

The global production of pulp and paper is expected to increase by 77% from 1995 to 2020 due to the increasing world population, in addition to improved literacy and quality of life worldwide [4]. Consequently, the high growth of paper consumption makes it more demanding to diversify the sources of papermaking fibres which are very much dependent on the forest for their supply. The continued high growth in paper consumption will surely lead to increased demand for papermaking fibres, creating additional pressure on the world dwindling forest resources. Therefore, exploring alternative fibre sources becomes imperative. Oil palm is one of the non-wood plants that show great potential as papermaking raw material.

Oil palm empty fruit bunches can be pulped by semi-chemical mechanical process. Clean pulp obtained by this process is suitable for making unbleached brown paper and moulded products. EFB of oil palm is also very adaptable to chemical pulping such as soda and kraft processes [20]. Soda EFB is claimed to be very suitable for manufacturing printing and writing papers, corrugated cartons, and other paper-based products [21].

Pulp produced from EFB responds favourably to mechanical treatment as reported by reference [22] in their work on the effect of beating time on fibre morphology and drainage time on soda pulp derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches. The beaten fibres were modified to become more shortened, swollen, flexible and collapsible into a smoother sheet with better formation and improved paper quality. The thick cell wall of oil palm fibres is likely to contribute to the production of sheet of high bulk and lower inter-fibre bonding potential in comparison with wood counterparts [23].

However, the paper quality obtained from EFB pulp is comparable to that of hardwood kraft pulp. And with total chlorine bleaching (TCF), pulps can be modified to make them much more conformable and suitable for papermaking. According to reference [24], paper made from empty bunch pulps has good web characteristics and good printing properties. Consequently, empty fruit bunch of oil palm can serve as a sustainable alternative source of pulp and papermaking fibre.
