Response of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus camaldulensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia mangium</Emphasis> kraft pulp in different ECF bleaching options

In this study, the response of Eucalyptus camaldulensis and Acacia mangium kraft pulp to different options of ECF bleaching was investigated. Oxygen-delignified pulps of both species having similar kappa number (c.a. 12) were used. Both the pulps were prebleached using conventional ClO₂ stage (D₀), combined use of ClO₂ and O₃ (DZ), hot acid treatment before D₀ (A_hotD₀) and hot acid treatment before (DZ) i.e., A_hot(DZ), hot ClO₂ treatment (D_HT) and A_hot followed by D_HT (A_hotD_HT). All prebleached pulps were finally bleached to 90%+ ISO brightness using D₁ option. The overall benefits of other options were not considerable compared to D₀ and (DZ). From the ClO₂ consumption point of view, for a certain species, the option A_hot(DZ) was the best. Instead of D₁ in final bleaching, pressurized hydrogen peroxide (PO) was also investigated in the case of D₀ and (DZ) prebleached pulps. (PO)-bleached pulp produced higher brightness stability but lower viscosity compared to D₁.