Soda pulp and sulphate (kraft) pulp were prepared from Nypa palm leaves while
cellulose triacetate and diacetate were prepared from the resultant pulps by acetylation with
acetic acid anhydride in the presence of sulphuric acid (as a catalyst). For pulp preparation,
the leaves were separated into raffia (surface film), lamina and midrib. The soda (sodium
hydroxide) pulp yield was 33.22% for raffia, 17.13% for lamina and 34.22% for midrib
with an average of 28.21% while kraft (sodium hydroxide and sodium sulphide) pulp yield
was 40.24% for raffia, 15.6% for lamina and 47.75% for midrib with an average of 34.
56%, which showed that kraft pulp yield was higher than the soda pulp yield. The average
yields based of cellulose diacetate were 51.0% and 57.1% and cellulose triacetate 117.47%
and 122.23% for the soda and kraft pulp, respectively. The infrared spectra of the acetate
showed marked absorption at 1735 – 1750 cm-1 due to the presence of the acetyl group.
The Nypa palm leaves which presently are not used for any industrial purpose, but are
nuisance to the environment, can be used in making pulp which in turn serves as input for
the preparation of cellulosic plastics (cellulose acetates).