Sustainable paper production from date palm and reed leaves through the valorization of agricultural waste products

The environmental consequences of wood-based paper production, including greenhouse gas emissions, have accelerated the search for sustainable alternatives. This study investigates the use of reed and date palm fibers as eco-friendly raw materials for paper production, focusing on starch’s influence on their thermal, structural, and mechanical properties. Reed fibers exhibited a higher pulp yield (58.2 %) and lower lignin content (7.8 %) compared to date palm fibers (55.9 % yield, 14.1 % lignin), contributing to papers with smoother textures and greater flexibility. The incorporation of starch into both fiber types resulted in notable performance improvements, though the effects were more pronounced in reed papers, as demonstrated by Fourier Transform Infrared and thermogravimetric analyses. Starch enhanced hydrogen bonding within the fiber matrix, leading to stronger fiber interactions and greater network integrity, as evidenced by superior thermal stability and cohesion in reed-based papers. This resulted in enhanced resistance to thermal degradation and increased fiber diameter. While the abrasion resistance, tensile strength, and tensile index of both paper types improved with starch, their crease recovery performance decreased. Reed papers, characterized by finer fibers and stronger hydrogen bonding, displayed superior flexibility and smoothness, making them suitable for applications requiring resilience and adaptability. Conversely, with their higher lignin content and coarser fibers, date palm papers exhibited greater rigidity and strength, suiting products prioritizing durability. Letterpress printing trials proved both paper types suitable for high-quality printing. The work findings highlight reed and date palm fibers, particularly with starch, as viable sustainable alternatives to traditional wood fibers in paper production.