Potential of cocoa husk waste for the paper industry

The study evaluated the lignin and cellulose contents in the waste of three varieties of cocoa grown in the cantón of Francisco de Orellana (Ecuador)- Nacional, CCN-51, and Super Árbol- in order to explore their potential as an input for the production of kraft paper. The collection was carried out on farms of the Asopriabet association, and the chemical analyses were developed at the National Institute of Agricultural Research, applying standardized methodologies (TAPPI T-222 and Kürschner-Hoffer). The results showed that CCN-51 had the highest lignin content (45.13%), while Nacional showed the highest percentage of cellulose (28.57%). Nevertheless, the differences between varieties were not statistically significant. It was concluded that, despite this, the potential of this waste as an alternative raw material is supported, suggesting complementary studies that include crop variability, physical characterization of the pulp and production pilot tests to validate its industrial applicability.