Potential of acetosolv pulping as an environment-friendly pulping method for spruce, beech, miscanthus, and characterization of handsheets

• Published in: Cellulose (London) 2024-05, Vol.31 (7), p.4509-4521
• Main Authors: Gupta, Nitin, Fiedler, Manuela, Lang, Matthias, Fischer, Steffen, Miletzky, Frank, Rastogi, Vibhore Kumar
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bioorganic Chemistry; Ceramics; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Commercialization; Composites; Contact angle; Glass; Kraft pulp; Natural Materials; Optical properties; Organic Chemistry; Original Research; Papermaking; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Sciences; Pulp & paper mills; Pulping; Raw materials; Substrates; Sustainable Development
• ISSN: 0969-0239; 1572-882X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10570-024-05850-8

Developing an environmentally friendly and more efficient pulping process is necessary to cope with the pollution issues created by the current pulp and paper mills. Although Organosolv pulping is considered environmentally friendly compared to kraft or soda pulping, the higher cost hindered the commercialization of the Organosolv process to pulp different raw materials. Therefore, this research aimed to explore the papermaking potential of three raw materials i.e., spruce, beech, and miscanthus, using Acetosolv pulping. This research also includes the determination of properties of the fibers influenced by refining and application potential that could arise for the fibers in terms of strength, barrier, and optical properties. Paper sheets showed excellent air barriers, which justifies their applications in the packaging sector. It was concluded that if the tensile index is the selection criteria, then even miscanthus (a nonwood material) Acetosolv pulp can replace the spruce softwood kraft pulp. Also, transparency and contact angle were found to be maximum for spruce which can facilitate its application as a substrate in green electronics.