Shortage of conventional raw material for the pulp and paper products together with the increasing
world demand for paper has renewed interest in non-wood fibres. Non-wood pulping capacity has been
increasing steadily over the last decade. A lot of crops grown for biomass, like switchgrass (Panicum
virgatum L.), are good examples of plants with potential for pulp production. Raw material chemical
composition, kraft pulp yield and properties, and fibre characteristics of elephant grass or hybrid
pennisetum (Pennisetum purpureum Schum. cv. SDPN3) and switchgrass (cv. Cave-in-Rock) were
determined in an effort to evaluate them as raw materials for pulp and paper production. Elephant grass
had -cellulose and Klasson lignin contents of 45.6 and 17.7%, respectively. The respective values for
switchgrass were 41.2 and 23.89 %. Pulp yields, following a mild kraft process, were 48 and 50% for
switchgrass and elephant grass, respectively. The corresponding kappa numbers were 15.5 and 9.2. The
weight-weighted fibre length averaged 1.32 mm. Pulp freeness was higher for switchgrass (330 mL) than
for elephant grass (139 mL). Elephant grass had a burst index above 5.85 kP.m2 g-1. These
characteristics demonstrate the suitability of both elephant grass and switchgrass for pulp production.