화학공학소재연구정보센터
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, Vol.52, No.9, 3300-3305, 2013
Improving Physical Properties of Kraft Hardwood Pulps by Copulping with Agricultural Residues
Wheat straw and corn stover are promising biorenewable resources that can be utilized in the pulp and paper industry. This study examines changes in the physical strength of pulps made from blends of agricultural residue and hardwoods. Wheat straw and corn stover were substituted for hardwood chips in the amounts of 10, 15, and 20 wt % in kraft pulping experiments while keeping the H-factor constant. This substitution allows a maximum 29% increase in tensile index and 12% increase in tear index for unrefined samples containing wheat straw. Pulp yields and kappa numbers changed slightly with increasing woodchip replacement levels. Three substituted pulps were bleached using a relatively mild OD(E + P + O)D sequence, and the viscosities and sugar profiles were traced throughout the process. The strength improvement can be attributed to the increased xylan contents of pulps made with agricultural residue. Fully bleached pulps preserved the improved mechanical properties, and an attempt was made to correlate the xylan content with the degree of strength development.