Avaliação anatômica de espécies amazônicas como indicação à estudos tecnológicos visando a produção de papel

Abstract

Despite the progressive increase in demand for wood, mainly for sawn products, the demand for pulp production is very small. It would be interesting if the pulp industry could count on native wood species of appropriate quality for this purpose. The present work aims to provide anatomical information of some little known Amazonian species and to complement the Walter A. Egler xylotheque database with information about the probable indication for technological studies and pulp production. The material for study was obtained from the existing collections in the xilotheque of the Museu Paraense Emilio Goeldi - MPEG. Amazonian species were selected for study: Maprounea guianensis Aubl. (Euphorbiaceae), Sclerolobium paniculatum Vog. (Caesalpiniaceae), Antonia ovata Pohl. (Loganiaceae), Xilopia emarginata Mart. (Annonaceae), Ocotea rubra Mez. (Lauraceae), Unonopsis guatterioides R.E.Fries (Annonaceae). Permanent slides and slides of macerated material were mounted for micrometric studies. By counting and measuring the fibers, the values of stiffness coefficient, wall fraction, Runkel index and flexibility coefficient were obtained. These parameters indicate the physical quality of the fiber for pulp production. The species Sclerolobium paniculatum Vog. was the closest to the ideal anatomical standards for a possible indication for technological studies aiming papermaking, as it presents small fibers, with thin walls and thick lumen, besides presenting excellent Runkel index for papermaking. The other species may also be indicated for possible technological studies, but with restrictions to the production of good quality paper.