Mixed Hardwood CMP Pulp Reinforcement by Wheat Straw Chemical Pulps

摘要

Chemical pulp production from agricultural residues, including wheat straw, and their utilization in blends with wood based fibers, such as high yield hardwood pulps, appears to be the most practical means to supplement the fiber shortages of the paper industry. In his respect, the production of wheat straw soda and soda-oxygen chemical pulps and their potentials for reinforcing local mixed hardwoods mill made CMP pulp, have been investigated at laboratory scale. The results indicated that; at similar kappa number of about 17, wheat straw soda-oxygen had much higher initial brightness and pulp yield than soda. In addition, hand sheets of both wheat straw soda and soda-oxygen pulps, had higher density and strength properties, but at lower bulk and opacity, than hardwood CMP. By using up to 30% of straw pulps, either soda or soda-oxygen, in blends with local hardwoods CMP, strength properties have been improved, with some reductions in bulk and opacity. The results of trials to evaluate the possibility of reducing imported softwood kraft pulp, indicated that; by using up to 30% wheat straw soda pulp in local CMP pulp furnish, it may be possible to achieve about 30% reduction in consumptions of both imported softwood kraft pulp and local hardwoods, with substantial improvements in burst and tensile strengths, at similar tear and optical properties of control sample.