Summary
The characteristics of Pinus oocarpa Shiede were examined to evaluate its suitability as a pulpwood for use in future reforestation programs in the Amazon region.
The existing literature was reviewed to determine its natural geographic distribution and the success of previous introductions and silviculture experiments in tropical and subtropical areas.
The study of pulpwood characteristics consisted of: 1) - the chemical analyses of two Pinus oocarpa wood samples, which had been stored for different lengths of time; 2) - the determination of their densities; 3) — classification of their pulp fibers according to dimensions; 4)- pulping assays chemical pulps by sufate, soda-sulfur and soda-antraquinone processes; 5) — the testing of several bleaching processes including C.E.H.H., C.E.D.E.D., D/C, E.D.E.D., C.E.H.D.E.D., and C. E/P. D. E/P. D; 6) — an analysis of the physicomechanical properties of unbleached and bleached pulps.
Production of semichemical pulps by the neutral sulphite semichemical pulping was also investigated. The unbleached pulps were bleached using the C.E.H.H. process. The physico-mechanical characteristics of the unbleached and bleached pulps were examined.
The results indicated that Pinus oocarpa Shiede produces pulps and groundwood suitable for paper production and thus should be considered for use in future reforestation programs in the Amazon region.