Use of butanol-water mixtures for making wheat straw pulp

Summary A central composite design was used to investigate the influence of the cooking conditions (time, temperature and butanol concentration) for wheat straw with butanol-water mixtures on the properties of the pulp obtained (yield and holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin and ethanol-benzene extractives contents) and the pH of the resulting waste water. A second-order polynomial model consisting of three independent process variables was found to accurately describe the organosolv pulping of wheat straw. The equations derived predict the yield, the holocellulose, α-cellulose, lignin and ethanol-benzene extractives contents of the pulp, and the pH of the waste water with multiple-R, R², adjusted-R² and Snedecor' F values of 0.99, 0.99, 0.99 and 310.33; 0.98, 0.97, 0.95 and 56.63; 0.91, 0.84, 0.74 and 9.14; 0.99, 0.98, 0.96 and 70.52; 0.97, 0.94, 0.92 and 40.42; and 0.98, 0.95, 0.93 and 49.33, respectively. The process variables must be set at low values in order to ensure a high yield and pH. On the other hand, if a high holocellulose content and low lignin and ethanol-benzene extractives contents are to be obtained, then the process variables must be set at high values. Finally, obtaining pulp with a high α-cellulose content entails using a long cooking time and a high temperature, as well as a low butanol concentration. Received 1 July 1996     

Influence of process variables on the properties of pulp and paper sheets obtained by sulphite pulping of olive tree wood

Summary A central composition design was developed to study the influence of process variables (temperature, pulping time, sulphite concentration, anthraquinone concentration and liquid/solid relation) on the properties of pulps (yield, holocellulose, α-cellulose and lignin contents, and brightness) and the paper sheets (stretch, burst index and tear index) obtained from them, in the sulphite pulping of olive tree wood. Equations that reproduce the properties of pulps prepared by sulphite pulping and of paper sheets obtained from it are reported. The proposed equations fit the experimental yield and the holocellulose and α-cellulose contents of the pulps with errors less than 5%, as well as brightness with errors less than 10%. Also, they reproduce the lignin content of the pulps, and the stretch, burst index and tear index of the paper sheets with errors less than 15%. Obtaining pulps with acceptably high yield, holocellulose and α-cellulose contents, and also a high brightness, in addition to low lignin contents, entails operating at a temperature of 193 °C for 143 min, using a sulphite concentration of 19.85%, an anthraquinone concentration of 0.1% and a liquid/solid relation of 6.24. These are also the most suitable conditions for obtaining paper sheets with a high stretch, burst index and tear index. Received 23 April 1998     

Biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry

Summary Biotechnology implies the technical exploitation of biological processes. One of nature's most important biological processes is the degradation of wood and other lignocellulosic materials to carbon dioxide, water, and humic substances. Consequently, there should be possibilities to apply biotechnology to wood conversion. This article summarizes briefly the knowledge relating to the enzymic degradation of cellulose, hemicelluloses, and lignin. However, it is mainly focused upon biotechnological processes in commercial use or in various stages of development for the pulp and paper industry. Areas covered are ethanol and protein production, water purification, development of new bleaching techniques, microbial delignification (biopulping), and development of biosensors for analysis of pulp fiber surfaces.Academy lecture presented on May 18, 1989 at the Fourth International Conference on Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry. Raleigh, NC USA     

A morphological study on the behavior of bamboo pulp fibers in the beating process

Summary Bamboo pulp fibers respond to beating more rapidly than do wood fibers. This is probably due to the difference in secondary wall structure between the fibers. In the present paper, the behavior on beating of pulp fibers from Bambusa polymorpha Munro was investigated from a morphological point of view. The secondary wall of bamboo fibers consists of alternately arranged broad and narrow layers. During the beating process, a number of transverse and concentric cracks are generated in the broad layers, which causes an internal fibrillation. The outer broad layers with their numerous cracks separate from the inner layers and swell highly toward the outside. The outer secondary wall layer of bamboo fibers has a microfibril angle of about 20° with respect to the fiber axis which is much smaller than that of the S1 layer of wood fibers. As a result this layer appears to offer little resistance to prevent the external swelling of the broad layers.Part of this work was financially supported by a Grand-in Aid for Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Japan, 57470095Currently with the Japan Pulp and Paper Research Institute, Inc., Tsukaba, Japan     

Wettability changes of wheat straw treated with chemicals and enzymes

A study was conducted to test wettability changes of the wheat straw treated with different methods for the preparation of wheat straw particle board. The wheat straws were separately sprayed with two chemicals (0.6% NaOH, 0.3% H2O2) and three enzymes (lipase, xylanase, cellulase). The contact angle between water and the surface of wheat straw was measured and the spreading-penetration parameters (K-values) were also calculated with wetting model. The surfaces of treated wheat straw and control sample were scanned by means of Micro-FTIR, and their peaks arrangements were analyzed. The surface morphologies of treated wheat straw and control sample were also observed by SEM. Chemical etching was found on the exterior surfaces of the straws treated separately with 0.6% NaOH and 0.3% H2O2; furthermore, the spreading-penetration parameters (K-values) of the distilled water on the exterior surfaces of the treated wheat straw along the grain were higher than that of control. The wettability of exterior surfaces of the wheat straws treated separately with lipase, xylanase and cellulose were improved after treating for seven days, and among the three enzymes treatments, the lipase treatment showed best result. The lipase treatment and NaOH treatment were determined as better methods for improving the wettability of wheat straw surfaces. However, in the economic aspect, NaOH treatment was more practical and easier in the pretreatment for the manufacture of straw particle board.     

Development of high-performance UF-bonded reed and wheat straw medium-density fiberboard

Urea formaldehyde resin-bonded reed and wheat straw fiberboards were produced from the fibers made under different steam cooking conditions in refining processes at densities of 500 and 700kg/m³. The effect of steam cooking conditions on the board properties was examined. The steam pressure and cooking time for reed and wheat straws were 0.4MPa/10min and 0.4MPa/5min, respectively, and 0.6MPa/3min and 0.6MPa/10min for both straws. The effect of steam cooking treatment before the fiber refining process on the wettability and weight losses of the straws was also investigated. The results indicated that the mechanical properties and linear expansion of the straw medium-density fiberboard (MDF) were improved with increasing steam cooking pressure and time during the refining process, whereas the thickness swelling (TS) did not vary much. The wettability of the straws was improved by cooking treatment. The steam cooking conditions had little effect on the wettability of the straw surfaces. For reed and wheat straws, the weight losses increased with increasing steam pressure and cooking time. In addition, it was found that the properties of MDF were significantly higher than those of particleboard, especially the internal bond (IB), where the IB values of MDF were more than 10 times higher than those of particleboard. All the properties of the straw MDF, except the TS of wheat board, can meet the requirement of JIS fiberboard standard. The high performances of MDF could be due to the improved wettability and the removal of extractives during the refining process.     

The influence of silane coupling agent and poplar particles on the wet-tability,surface roughness,and hardness of UF-bonded wheat straw （Triticum aestivum L.）/poplar wood particleboard

We used silane coupling agents to improve the bonding ability between wheat straw particles and UF resin, and investigated surface properties （wettability and surface roughness） and hardness of parti-cleboard made from UF-bonded wheat straw （Triticum aestivum L.） combined with poplar wood as affected by silane coupling agent content and straw/poplar wood particle ratios. We manufactured one-layered particleboard panels at four different ratios of straw to poplar wood par-ticles （0%, 15%, 30% and 45% wheat straw） and silane coupling agent content at three levels of 0, 5% and 10%. Roughness measurements, average roughness （Ra）, mean peak-to-valley height （Rz）, and root mean square roughness （Rq） were measured on unsanded samples by using a fine stylus tracing technique. We obtained contact angle measurements by using a goniometer connected to a digital camera and computer sys-tem. Boards containing greater amounts of poplar particles had superior hardness compared to control samples and had lower wettability. Panels made with higher amounts of silane had lower Rq values.     

Characteristics of microfibrillated cellulosic fibers and paper sheets from Korean white pine

Microfibrillated cellulosic fibrous product was successfully obtained from Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) by using two alternative pretreatments (steam and ozone treatments) followed by disk milling (DM). The steam and ozone treatments were effective in extracting some of the hemicelluloses and degrading lignin, respectively, with both types of treatment resulting in the improvement of mechanical fibrillation as a result of loosening of the cell wall structure. The obtained products showed nanoscopic fibrous morphology even though hemicelluloses and lignin components remained. The specific surface area and filtration time were increased using the DM treatment after both treatments, and the values increased further with longer periods of DM. The paper sheets of the fibrillated products after both the alternative treatments had higher tensile properties at the same DM time scale than the sheets of the products obtained without treatment. Tensile strength was further increased by increasing sheet density showing the highest tensile strength and modulus of 125 MPa and 20 GPa, respectively.     

麦草碱木质素的氧化降解及产物特性的研究(I)

对不同氧化条件下,麦草氧化碱木质素的分子质量、酸溶木质素含量、酚羟基、羧基、甲氧基含量、表面活性的变化进行了研究.研究表明,当用碱量较高(60%,30%)时,其分子质量均一化程度较高.加入H2O2后分子质量＞10 000的高分子组分含量明显下降,但用碱量较低(10%.5%)时则变化不大,说明在02/H202氧化时碱有着明显作用.对酸溶木质素含量来说,也呈现出这一规律.木质素经氧化后,酚羟基含量升高,而羧基、甲氧基含量下降.在高用碱量条件(60%、30%)下,氧化木质素的表面张力下降较大,添加H202后下降更为明显.当用碱量为60%、H202用量10%时,氧化木质素4%水溶液的表面张力可由原木质素的46.8 mN/m降至38 8 mN/m     

Evaluation of pulp and paper making characteristics of certain fast growing plants

Summary Four species of fast growing annual plant viz.Hibiscus sabdariffa, Crotalaria juncea, Tephrosia candida andHibiscus cannabinus and a variety of reed, Neyraudia reynaudiana were evaluated in the laboratory for their pulp and paper making properties. Data on proximate chemical analysis of raw materials, unbleached and bleached pulp properties, morphological properties of fibres and physical strength properties of paper sheets were evaluated. The unbleached pulp yields were 44.90–53.20% with all the five plant materials, while bleached pulp yields varied from 39.80–50.60%. The average fibre lengths and diameters of the unbleached pulp obtained from the five plant species were within the range of 0.75 mm–2.15 mm and 20–22 pun respectively. Paper hand sheets, made with bleached pulps (45° SR) obtained from the five plant species, gave burst indices 2.75–3.92 kPa m²/g, tear indices 3.73–9.61 m N m²/g and tensile indices 37.27–47.81 N mg^–1, indicating adequate strength properties for writing and printing type of paper.The authors thank Director, Regional Research Laboratory (CSIR), Jorhat, India, for his kind permission to publish this paper. The authors also wish to thank B. N. Tosh, JPF for his assistance.     

The Japanese pulp and paper industry: an analysis of financial performance from 1991 to 2001

This article discusses the determinants of profitability expressed as return on capital among Japanese pulp and paper companies. Return on capital is measured as income before tax related to stockholders’ equity. Return on capital has been divided into profit margin and asset utilization rate. The hypothesis is that return on capital can be explained by mill size, productivity, product line, financial situation, and use of wood resources. The dataset consists of 13 larger Japanese pulp and paper companies listed in Pulp &; Paper Statistics. Data on financial performance, production, and use of wood fibers were collected for the period 1991–2001. The average return on equity for the studied companies is 4.2%. Labor productivity has increased quite significantly, from about 600 to 1,000 kg/employee and year. An econometric analysis indicates that the best model fit is found when the asset utilization rate is used as the dependent variable. Significant variables are, among others, asset utilization rate lagged one time period (?), labor productivity (+), capital productivity (?), paper production as a share of total paper and board production (?), total value of assets on the books (?) and solidity (+). This may indicate that the total value of assets on the books is large in relation to the total production of paper, paperboard and pulp.     

麦秸染色预处理工艺与染色剂筛选

选取直接染料、活性染料、碱性染料在热浸渍条件下对不同预处理后的麦秸进行染色试验.根据色度学指标及染料上染率的对比分析,考察不同预处理方式对麦秸染色效果的影响,优选适合麦秸的染料种类和预处理工艺.结果表明:麦秸在1％氢氧化钠预处理去蜡层,用直接染料、碱性染料、活性染料分别染色后,其色度学指标△E*分别为46.27、49.52和57.31,上染率分别为43.71％、50.12％和75％,活性染料染色后的麦秸色彩较其他两种染料效果好,并且染料利用率较高.     

Cement-bonded particleboard with a mixture of wheat straw and poplar wood

We investigated the hydration behavior and some physical/mechanical properties of cement-bonded particleboard (CBPB) containing particles of wheat straw and poplar wood at various usage ratios and bonded with Portland cement mixed with different levels of inorganic additives. We determined the setting time and compression strength of cement pastes containing different additives and particles, and studied the effects of these additives and particles on thickness swelling, internal bond strength and modulus of rupture of CBPB by using RSM (Response Surface Methodology). The mathematical model equations (second-order response functions) were derived to optimize properties of CBPB by computer simulation programming. Predicted values were in agreement with experimental values (R2 values of 0.93, 0.96 and 0.96 for TS, IB and MOR, respectively). RSM can be efficiently applied to model panel properties. The variables can affect the properties of panels. The cement composites with bending strength > 12.5 MPa and internal bond strength > 0.28 MPa can be made by using wheat straw as a reinforcing material. Straw particle usage up to 11.5% in the mixture satisfies the minimum requirements of International Standard, EN 312 (2003) for IB and MOR. The dose of 4.95% calcium chloride, by weight of cement, can improve mechanical properties of the panels at the minimum requirement of EN 312. By increasing straw content from 0 to 30%, TS was reduced by increasing straw particle usage up to 1.5% and with 5.54% calcium chloride in the mixture, TS satisfied the EN 312 standard.     

The pulp and paper properties of Sirex noctilio infested and fire-damagedthermomechanically pulped,South African grown Pinus patula

Pinus patula is the softwood species most extensively planted in South Africa. However, large portions of these plantings are under threat from Sirex noctilio infestation and occasional forest fires. In this exploratory investigation, the effects of tree age, Sirex noctilio infestation and fire damage to wood from Pinus patula trees on their pulp and paper properties were evaluated. Pulp was produced using the thermomechanical pulping (TMP) process. The energy consumption required to pulp the different pulpwood materials was determined. Pulps were beaten for five different time periods to investigate the development of the fibre properties in response to increasing energy input. Paper properties such as burst, tear strength and breaking length were determined on handsheets manufactured from unbeaten and beaten pulps. Box and line plots and canonical variate analysis biplots were used to statistically analyse the data. It was found that the burst strength of paper produced from healthy trees was significantly higher than that from sirex-infested or fire damaged (burnt) trees. Similarly, the tear strength of paper from healthy and burnt trees was significantly better than from sirex-infested or young trees. No significant differences in breaking length were evident between the pulpwood materials and an increase in beating time did not lead to any improvements. From this study it can be concluded that wood from dead or dying, sirex-infested and young trees produced paper with consistently lower strength properties compared to wood obtained from healthy 12-year-old trees.     

Effects of silane coupling agent level and extraction treatment on the properties of UF-bonded reed and wheat straw particleboards

Urea formaldehyde resin bonded reed and wheat particleboards with a density of 0.7g/cm³ were manufactured from two types of particle: fine and coarse particles. The effects of the silane coupling agent (SCA) level and ethanol-benzene (EB) treatment on the board properties were examined. For SCA, epoxide silane (SiEP) and amino silane (SiNH) were used for reed and wheat particles, respectively. The results are summarized as follows. (1) For both reed and wheat boards, the internal bond (IB) strength and thickness swelling (TS) were significantly improved at up to 5% SCA content, but the effectiveness of treatment kept constant at above 5%. (2) The level of SCA had little effect on the bending strength, especially for the boards composed of coarse particles. (3) EB treatment upgraded both the IB and TS of wheat board significantly. (4) SiEP incorporation improved the IB and TS of reed board significantly, whereas EB treatment was more effective for wheat board. (5) The dimensional stability of both reed and wheat boards under varying humidity could be improved by increasing the level of SCA and by EB treatment. EB treatment was more effective than SCA addition.     

Upgrading of urea formaldehyde-bonded reed and wheat straw particleboards using silane coupling agents

Reed and wheat straw particleboards bonded with urea formaldehyde (UF) resin were manufactured from two different material configurations (i.e., fine and coarse particles). The board densities were in the range of 0.550–.90g/cm³. The effects of particle size and board density on the board properties were examined. The properties of particleboard produced from fine particles were better than those made from coarse particles. An increase in board density resulted in a corresponding improvement in the board properties. The properties of OF bonded reed and wheat straw particleboards were relatively lower than those of commercial particleboards. Three silane coupling agents were used to improve the bondability between the reed and wheat particles and OF resin. Results of this study indicate that all the board properties were improved by the addition of silane coupling agent. The degree of improvement achieved from each coupling agent was different; epoxide silane was found to be more effective for reed straw particleboard, and amino silane was better for wheat straw particleboard.     

Alternative fiber resources for pulp and paper industry of bangladesh: Why and what?

This study has evaluated the factors affecting the utilization of alternative fiber resources and efforts have also been made to outline the possible alternative fiber resources available in the country. Since 1989, paper consumption has exceeded production. Imports of industrial paper have increased and the future of newsprint export is dark. The government sector pulp and paper mills are highly dependent on forest based fiber resources and private sector paper and board mills depend on imported pulps. Uneven distribution of fiber resources has limited the raw material availability of the pulp and paper mills. Shortage of raw materials, irregular procurements, and low installed capacity are the main reasons for low paper production. On the other hand, paper demand will increase tremendously in the near future. But the present raw material availability is not sufficient to cope with the future demand for attaining self sufficiency in paper production. Therefore, immediate action is necessary for utilizing alternative fiber resources. Rangpur region has abundant lower grade jute. Jute cutting is available in Narayangonj area. Available bagasse supply is expected in the northwest regions after the end of this century. These resources are more than enough for supplementing the shortage of present raw materials during the 1997–2006 period. This is a revised of “Study of Non-wood and Forest Based Fiber Resources in Bangladesh — A Case Study on Pulp and Paper Industry” presented in the '95 TAPPI Pulping Conference. Ref. Proceedings 1995 Pulping Conference—Chicago, Book 2, TAPPI Press, Atlanta, 1995, 597–603.     

Use of traditional inputs and advanced industrial technology in value-added within the pulp and paper industry in india

This paper exploits the information obtained in Annual Survey of Industries during 1999–2010 to gauge the degree of value-added owing to the use of traditional inputs (capital, labor, energy, indigenous materials, and imported materials) and advanced industrial production technology (services, information and communications technology, and pollution control equipment) in two main sub-sectors of the Pulp and Paper (P&P) industry in India categorized according to use of different types of raw material. The panel data econometric exercise confirms that the use of traditional inputs and advanced industrial technologies, and industry level determinants of the two sub-sectors have varied effects on value-added within them. These findings are important for promoting higher value-added production in different sectors within the resource-based industry.     

Effects of pulp freezing and frozen pulp storage on fibre characteristics

Summary A requirement of long-term research on pulp fibres in that the material for study be stored for prolonged periods without deterioration and without changes in properties. In this paper effects of pulp freezing and thawing and of frozen pulp storage on fibre, wet web, and handsheet properties are discussed. A variety of radiata pine kraft pulps, a radiata pine sodium bisulphite pulp, and silver beech and hard beech (Nothofagus species) kraft pulps are examined.The expanded walls and diameters of beaten fibres were contracted by pulp freezing. This behaviour made fibres less flexible and less able to collapse during papermaking operations. The freezing treatment also caused fibre kinks and other fibre configurations which existed in a pulp before freezing to be fixed into position and made somewhat resistant to straightening when in strained wet webs. It was found that extents of fibre kink can be varied depending on the degree to which fibre configurations are forced into a pulp network before freezing. Increasing periods of frozen storage caused the intensity and distribution of bonds redeveloped by the freezing treatment to be progressively modified. Fibre walls were, however, not contracted further by increasing periods of frozen storage.The technical assistance of Miss D. Brookes is gratefully acknowledged