Characterization of pulp and paper produced using rapid alkaline hydrogen peroxide pulping of Miscanthus × giganteus for paper mulch

Agricultural plastic mulch sheets are generally composed of petroleum-derived polyethylene (PE). However, biodegradable plastics and paper materials have attracted significant attention because of concerns regarding plastic pollution and the need for decarbonization. Miscanthus × giganteus (M×G) is a promising nonwoody biomass material with high yield potential and sustainability. This study investigated the feasibility of producing paper mulch from M×G using alkaline hydrogen peroxide (AHP) pulping, a method that does not require heating or pressurization, and evaluated the fundamental properties of the resulting sheets as alternatives to plastic. Short-term AHP pulping and laboratory-scale soda pulping were applied to M×G, and specimen sheets were prepared from both pulps. A light-yellow pulp was obtained after short-term AHP pulping for 10–15 min, with a yield of approximately 59 %. Both types of pulp produced sheets with sufficient tensile and burst strengths for use as paper mulch. The specific tensile strength was greater for AHP M×G paper (dry basis weight 60 g/m 2 ; 42.8 N·m/g) soda pulp M×G paper (40.7 N·m/g). Both specimens exhibited high air permeability, suggesting a potential heat-shielding effect. The paper mulch sheets promoted better lettuce plant growth than conventional PE mulch and the control without mulch. The dry weight of lettuce was 5.3 and 1.7 times higher when grown on AHP M×G mulch sheets than on PE mulch sheets or without mulch, respectively. This study demonstrated the potential of AHP M×G sheets as an effective, sustainable alternative to conventional PE agricultural mulch. • AHP of Miscanthus × giganteus (M×G) could do pulping despite the short time and no heating and pressurization required. • Cellulose content of AHP treated pulp was higher than that of the soda pulping. • AHP M×G sheet retains tensile strength while permeability is relatively high. • The AHP M×G sheet could be applied for lettuce cultivation as a paper mulch.