One stage oxygen-alkali cooking under relatively low pressure (610kg/cm
2) was investigated using Asplund pulp of White Birch (
Betula platyphylla SUKATCHEV var.japonica HARA) as a starting material.
Alkali charge, oxygen pressure, pulp to liquor ratio, and reaction temperature showed significant effects on the properties of pulp obtained.
It was found that addition of MgCO
3 as a protector in the cooking liquor inhibited the severe degradation of carbohydrates selectively, but didn't affect the delignification, resulting in remarkable improvement of the yield, brightness and strength properties of the pulp. Furthermore, dissolved organic materials, COD and color of spent liquor were reduced by addition of the protector. Optimum charge of MgCO
3 was found to be varied depending on the charge of cooking conditions.
Conclusively, optimum cooking conditions within the range tested require 30% alkali charge, 10kg/cm
2 oxygen pressure, 1 : 15 pulp to liquor ratio, 110 °C reaction temperature, and 2% addition of MgCO
3, respectively.
The pulp obtained by oxygen-alkali cooking (OP) contained more residual lignin but less pentosan than kraft pulp (KP) and alkali pulp (AP).
Strength properties of OP were not so good as those of KP, showing that one of the disadvantage of OP is it's inferiority to sheet strength.
The color and COD of OP spent liquor were only 1.5% and 35% of KP spent liquor respectively.Thus, by this process, it is expected to reduce the environmental pollution.
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