What is the woody inner portion of the hemp stalk called?
- Hemp fiber
- Hemp hurds
- Hemp seed
- Hemp leaves
Correct Answer: Hemp hurds
Correct Answer Explanation: The woody inner portion of the hemp stalk is called hemp hurds. These hurds are essentially the leftover woody material after the fiber is extracted.
What traditional paper-making material was hemp hurds being compared to in 1916?
- Cotton
- Linen
- Wood pulp
- Recycled paper
Correct Answer: Wood pulp
Correct Answer Explanation: In 1916, hemp hurds were being compared to wood pulp, the primary material used for paper-making at the time. The increasing demand for paper due to industrialization and the rise of mass media was putting a strain on wood resources, making the search for alternative paper-making materials more urgent.
What process separates the hemp fiber from the woody hurds?
- Retting
- Breaking
- Scutching
- Cooking
Correct Answer: Breaking
Correct Answer Explanation: Breaking is the process that separates the fiber from the woody hurds. This process can be done by hand or by machine. Machine breaking leads to more concentrated piles of hurds, making them more readily available for paper-making.
How is hemp typically retted in the United States?
- Water retting
- Dew retting
- Chemical retting
- No retting
Correct Answer: Dew retting
Correct Answer Explanation: Dew retting is the most common retting method in the United States. In this method, hemp stalks are laid out in swaths on the ground and exposed to the weather. This process helps break down the gums and pectin, allowing for easier fiber separation.
What is the average weight of a bale of hemp hurds compared to a bale of hemp fiber?
- The same weight
- One-third less
- One-third more
- Double the weight
Correct Answer: One-third less
Correct Answer Explanation: A bale of hemp hurds weighs approximately one-third less than a bale of hemp fiber. This is because the hurds are denser than the fiber.
What is the estimated annual supply of hemp hurds from machine-broken hemp in the United States?
- 7,000 tons
- 70,000 tons
- 700,000 tons
- 7,000,000 tons
Correct Answer: 7,000 tons
Correct Answer Explanation: The annual supply of hemp hurds from machine-broken hemp in the United States is estimated at over 7,000 tons. This highlights the potential market for hemp hurds as a sustainable paper-making material.
What is the main advantage of hemp hurds compared to wood pulp?
- Lower cost
- Higher yield
- Faster regeneration
- Easier processing
Correct Answer: Faster regeneration
Correct Answer Explanation: Hemp is a fast-growing plant, with an annual growth rate significantly higher than that of trees. This means hemp hurds can be harvested more frequently, reducing the pressure on land resources and promoting sustainable practices.
How are hemp hurds treated to release the cellulose fibers for paper-making?
- They are boiled in water
- They are soaked in acid
- They are cooked in a caustic-soda solution
- They are ground into a powder
Correct Answer: They are cooked in a caustic-soda solution
Correct Answer Explanation: The cooking process involves treating the hurds with a caustic-soda solution. This chemical treatment breaks down the lignin and other non-cellulose materials in the hurds, leaving behind the cellulose fibers.
What is the average yield of total fiber from hemp hurds compared to wood pulp?
- 35%
- 47%
- 55%
- 65%
Correct Answer: 35%
Correct Answer Explanation: The yield of total fiber from hemp hurds is 35% of bone-dry fiber, compared to 47% for wood pulp. This means that more hemp hurds are needed to produce the same amount of pulp as wood.
What is the strength factor of paper made from hemp hurds compared to standard machine-finish printing paper?
- 0.28
- 0.33
- 0.38
- 0.43
Correct Answer: 0.33
Correct Answer Explanation: The strength factor of the paper produced from hemp hurds is 0.33, compared to 0.28 for standard machine-finish printing paper. This demonstrates that hemp-hurd paper can achieve a higher strength than standard paper.
What is a common method used to refine the pulp and reduce the presence of shives?
- Bleaching
- Furnishing
- Jordan refining
- Beating
Correct Answer: Jordan refining
Correct Answer Explanation: Jordan refining is a process that refines the pulp, reducing the presence of shives and improving the paper’s surface. Shives are small, unrefined pieces of wood that can negatively impact the paper’s quality.
What is the main reason for baling hemp hurds?
- To make them easier to transport
- To prevent them from rotting
- To increase their value
- To make them easier to process
Correct Answer: To make them easier to transport
Correct Answer Explanation: Baling helps reduce the bulk of the hurds, making it more economical to ship. Bales of hurds are typically covered with burlap or chipboard to prevent them from shaking out during transport and storage.
What is the main purpose of sieving the hemp hurds before cooking?
- To remove dirt and impurities
- To separate the fiber from the hurds
- To reduce the size of the hurds
- To dry the hurds
Correct Answer: To remove dirt and impurities
Correct Answer Explanation: Sieving is a crucial step for producing high-quality paper. It removes dirt, sand, and chaff from the hurds before cooking, ensuring a clean and consistent pulp.
What does the term “retting” refer to in hemp processing?
- The process of separating the fiber from the hurds
- The process of breaking down the woody material
- The process of removing the gums and pectin from the stalks
- The process of drying the stalks
Correct Answer: The process of removing the gums and pectin from the stalks
Correct Answer Explanation: Retting is the process of removing the gums and pectin from the hemp stalks, allowing for the separation of the fibers. This can be done through dew retting (exposure to the weather) or water retting (immersion in water).
What is the purpose of “beating” the pulp in paper-making?
- To break down the fibers into smaller pieces
- To remove impurities from the pulp
- To bleach the pulp
- To add color to the pulp
Correct Answer: To break down the fibers into smaller pieces
Correct Answer Explanation: Beating is a critical step in reducing the fibers to the desired length and refining the pulp for better felting, which greatly impacts the quality of the final paper.
Which of the following is NOT a benefit of using hemp hurds for paper-making?
- It is a sustainable resource
- It is a readily available resource
- It produces high-quality paper
- It is a cheaper alternative to wood pulp
Correct Answer: It is a cheaper alternative to wood pulp
Correct Answer Explanation: While hemp hurds are a more sustainable alternative to wood pulp, they are not necessarily cheaper. The cost of processing hemp hurds can be higher than that of wood pulp.
Why is it important to have a concentrated supply of hemp hurds for paper-making?
- It makes them easier to transport
- It reduces the cost of processing
- It improves the quality of the paper
- It increases the yield of pulp
Correct Answer: It makes them easier to transport
Correct Answer Explanation: Concentrated piles of hurds make collection and transportation more efficient and economical. This is especially important considering the bulkiness of hemp hurds.
What is the main reason for the increasing use of machine breaking in hemp production?
- It is more efficient than hand breaking
- It is less expensive than hand breaking
- It produces a higher quality fiber
- It is better for the environment
Correct Answer: It is more efficient than hand breaking
Correct Answer Explanation: Machine breaking is faster and more efficient than hand breaking, leading to greater availability of hurds. This trend is driven by the need for faster and more efficient fiber production.
What is the role of a “dandy roll” in the paper-making process?
- It presses the water out of the pulp
- It creates a textured finish on the paper
- It adds color to the paper
- It mixes the fibers in the pulp
Correct Answer: It creates a textured finish on the paper
Correct Answer Explanation: A dandy roll is a rotating roll with a patterned surface used on the paper machine to create a textured finish. The pattern on the roll transfers to the paper, giving it a unique look and feel.
What is the main advantage of growing hemp in different regions of the United States?
- It reduces the cost of transportation
- It ensures a consistent supply of hurds
- It improves the quality of the hurds
- It reduces the risk of crop failure
Correct Answer: It ensures a consistent supply of hurds
Correct Answer Explanation: Growing hemp in various regions allows for geographic diversification in the production of hemp hurds. This reduces the risk of relying on a single region for supply, ensuring a consistent and reliable source of this paper-making material.
What does the term “furnishing” refer to in paper-making?
- The process of bleaching the pulp
- The process of mixing the pulp with other fibers
- The process of drying the paper
- The process of cutting the paper into sheets
Correct Answer: The process of mixing the pulp with other fibers
Correct Answer Explanation: Furnishing is the process of mixing the pulp with other fibers, loading agents (e.g., clay), and sizing agents to create a balanced furnish for the paper. This ensures the final product has the desired properties, such as strength, smoothness, and opacity.
Why was the use of hemp hurds for paper-making particularly relevant in 1916?
- There was a shortage of wood pulp due to deforestation
- The demand for paper was increasing due to industrialization
- The quality of wood pulp was declining
- The cost of wood pulp was rising
Correct Answer: The demand for paper was increasing due to industrialization
Correct Answer Explanation: The year 1916 saw a surge in the demand for paper due to industrialization and the rise of mass media. This demand led to concerns about the sustainability of the wood pulp industry, which was relying heavily on unsustainable logging practices. This fueled the search for alternative paper-making materials, including hemp hurds.
What is the estimated annual consumption of wood by the paper industry in relation to the total forest cut?
- 1%
- 3%
- 5%
- 10%
Correct Answer: 3%
Correct Answer Explanation: The annual consumption of wood by the paper industry is about 3% of the total forest cut. This demonstrates the significant reliance of the paper industry on wood pulp, highlighting the need for alternative sources.
What is the main reason for the longer cooking time required for hemp hurds compared to wood pulp?
- The lignin content in hemp hurds is higher
- The cellulose content in hemp hurds is lower
- The fibers in hemp hurds are more robust
- The hurds are more prone to rotting
Correct Answer: The fibers in hemp hurds are more robust
Correct Answer Explanation: Hemp hurds require a longer cooking time than wood pulp due to the harder, more robust nature of the hurds. This makes them more resistant to the chemical treatment process.
What is the estimated average yield of hemp hurds per acre?
- 1.5 tons
- 2.5 tons
- 3.5 tons
- 4.5 tons
Correct Answer: 2.5 tons
Correct Answer Explanation: The average yield of hurds per acre is about 2.5 tons. This highlights the potential volume of hurds available for paper-making.
What is the purpose of covering bales of hemp hurds with burlap or chipboard?
- To prevent the hurds from being damaged
- To prevent the hurds from being stolen
- To prevent the hurds from shaking out
- To increase the weight of the bales
Correct Answer: To prevent the hurds from shaking out
Correct Answer Explanation: Burlap or chipboard covers help prevent the hurds from shaking out during transport and storage. This ensures a more efficient and economical handling process.
What does the term “shives” refer to in the context of paper-making?
- Unrefined pieces of wood
- Small fibers in the pulp
- Impurities in the water
- Bleaching chemicals
Correct Answer: Unrefined pieces of wood
Correct Answer Explanation: Shives are small, unrefined pieces of wood that can negatively impact the paper’s quality. They can cause roughness and unevenness in the paper surface.
What is the estimated ratio of pulp yield from wood to hemp hurds?
- 1:1
- 1:2
- 2:1
- 3:1
Correct Answer: 2:1
Correct Answer Explanation: The ratio of pulp yield from wood to hemp hurds is approximately 2:1. This suggests that hemp hurds require a greater volume of raw material to produce the same amount of pulp as wood.
What is the approximate caustic soda concentration required for optimal cooking of hemp hurds?
- 50 grams per liter
- 107 grams per liter
- 150 grams per liter
- 200 grams per liter
Correct Answer: 107 grams per liter
Correct Answer Explanation: Hemp hurds require a caustic soda concentration of 107 grams per liter for optimal cooking. This is important for understanding the chemical treatment process and ensuring the desired breakdown of lignin and other non-cellulose materials.
What is the main purpose of “scutching” in hemp processing?
- To separate the fiber from the hurds
- To remove the remaining woody material from the fibers
- To ret the hemp stalks
- To bleach the fiber
Correct Answer: To remove the remaining woody material from the fibers
Correct Answer Explanation: Scutching is the process of removing the remaining woody material from the fibers after the breaking process. This helps refine the fiber and prepare it for further processing.
What is the folding endurance of hemp-hurd paper compared to standard machine-finish printing paper?
- Significantly lower
- Slightly lower
- The same
- Significantly higher
Correct Answer: Significantly higher
Correct Answer Explanation: The folding endurance of the hemp-hurd paper is significantly higher than standard paper. This shows that hemp hurds can impart greater durability to the final product.
What is the main reason for the increasing interest in exploring alternative paper-making materials?
- Environmental concerns
- Economic concerns
- Technological advancements
- All of the above
Correct Answer: All of the above
Correct Answer Explanation: The increasing interest in exploring alternative paper-making materials is driven by a combination of factors, including environmental concerns about deforestation, economic concerns about the cost of wood pulp, and technological advancements that allow for the processing of new materials.