Glycol ether-organosolv pulping process of radiata pine and comparison of characteristics with UKP

The LAS (low temperature, atmospheric pressure and short reaction time) process is a bioconversion of biomass using glycol ether and acidic catalyst and is an organosolv process. In this study, the LAS process was applied to identify the possibility of pulping of radiata pine. The pulp prepared in the reaction for 60 minutes at a temperature of 120 "C with liquor ratio of 1:4 was selected as the optimal LAS pulp. LAS pulp had lower fiber length, higher residual lignin content and lower degree of polymerization than unbleached kraft pulp (UKP). The tensile strength of handsheets made from LAS pulp was lower than that of UKP due to the low hemicellulose content, short fiber length and removal of amorphous cellulose. That is, LAS pulping produces fibers with a high percentage of cellulose because the sulfuric acid catalyst elutes many hemicelluloses. Therefore, LAS pulp is difficult to expect the advantages as a paper pulp. However, it is thought that LAS pulp with high cellulose content could be applied as a dissolving pulp containing lignin.