Abstract
Lignocellulosic residues cause many environmental problems; therefore, conversion of these residues to pulp and paper production will reduce these problems in Saudi Arabia. Residues from Phoenix dactylifera, Triticum aestivum and Conocarpus erect us, in addition to woody materials such as hardwood Tamarix aphylla and softwood Juniperus procera, were evaluated using anatomical characteristics to investigate the suitability of these residues for the pulp and paper industry. The results revealed that lignocellulosic residues had fibre lengths similar to or longer than hardwood fibres, but did not reach softwood fibre length because in softwood tracheids and tracheids are longer than other fibres. Fibre from lignocellulosic residues was similar to hardwood fibre, so lignocellulosic residues can be used for pulp and paper production. The fibre distribution of C. erectus prunings was similar to that of hardwood (T aphylla), whereas distribution of P dactylifera was similar to that of softwood (J. procera). Regarding wheat straw (T aestivum), distribution of fibre was between those of hardwood and softwood. It is expected that handsheet formed from C. erectus and T aestivum pulp would give a smoother paper, whereas P dactylifera and J. procera pulps would be high in most strength properties than handsheet from other species because short fibres will fill the voids in the paper sheet whereas strength properties would increase with increasing fibre length.