RED DEER, Alta. – Paper from barley, wheat or hemp always draws interest but so far the process is less than perfect.
The Alberta Research Council is looking for a range of agricultural fibres that may be blended with wood fibres to make paper. Part of that research was paid for by the Alberta Barley Commission.
“Spruce pulp is the benchmark and seven pulp mills in Alberta use spruce or spruce and pine,” said Gordon Leary of the Alberta Research Council.
“In principle, wheat and barley straw should make paper,” he said.
Barley straw can also be made into good fibreboard. Leary said a possible market is cardboard or grocery bags.
The straw yields a large amount of fibre but the paper is not as strong or as bright as that made from wood.
Leary showed two samples of barley fibre paper. One looked like yellow parchment and another was like a light grey cardboard.
