Process for the production of dissolving pulp from Trema orientalis (nalita) by prehydrolysis kraft and soda-ethylenediamine (EDA) process

This paper presents a preliminary study for the production of dissolving pulp from Trema orientalis (Nalita). Water prehydrolysis kraft and soda-ethylenediamine (EDA) pulping for the production of dissolving pulp from T. orientalis was investigated. Prehydrolysis at 150 and 170 oC did not produce pulp with high α-cellulose content when using the kraft process. But addition of 0.25 % H2SO4 in prehydrolysis liquor increased the purity of the pulp with the sacrifice of pulp yield and viscosity. The soda-EDA process produced better pulp yield, kappa number, viscosity, and α-cellulose content as compared to the kraft process. Increasing EDA charge in the soda liquor increased pulping selectivity and α-cellulose content. Degraded cellulose (R18-R10) in soda-EDA pulp was lower than kraft pulp. But the bleachability of soda-EDA pulp was inferior as compared to kraft pulp in DED bleaching.