Assessment of Utility of some Pulp Wood Species of Kerala State Based on Fibre Quality

Thirteen hardwood species from Kerala State forest viz. Albizia falcataria (1), Anthocephalus chinensis (2), Bischofia javanica (3), Broussonetia papyrifera (4), Ceiba pentandra (5), Erythrina variegata (6), Eucalyptus grandis (7), E. tereticornis (8), E torelliana (9), Gmelina arborea (10), Pongamia pinnata (11), Terminalia myriocarpa (12), and Trema orientalis (13) have been studied to evaluate their utility as raw material for the pulp wood industry from the fibre point of view. In general the fibres with good length, high flexibility and slenderness ratio and low Runkel's ratio are acceptable for pulping. On the basis of these criteria their suitability is in the following order: 5 > 1 > 8 > 7 > 10 > 12 > 11 > 6 > 13 > 4 > 2 > 3 > 9.