Enhancing yield through high-kappa pulping

Abstract

Chemical pulping consists of a collection of delignification reactions designed to remove amorphous lignin from the fiber matrix while preserving carbohydrates in a fibrous form. Commercially available cooking processes are relatively nonselective with reagents attaching both lignin and carbohydrates. Generally, the carbohydrates react more slowly than the lignin, so some carbohydrate selectivity does exist for modern pulping processes. However, extended reaction times or excessive reaction temperatures will substantially reduce pulp yield. To date, only a few methods of converting high-kappa pulp into enhanced fiber yield have been demonstrated.