SELECTING THE PRE-HYDROLYSIS CONDITIONS FOR EUCALYPTUS WOOD IN A FRACTIONAL EXPLOITATION BIOREFINING SCHEME

摘要

The operating conditions for the autohydrolysis of eucalyptus wood were optimized with a view to maximizing hemicellulose extraction while preserving the integrity of glucan. The influence of the operating conditions used in the soda-anthraquinone pulping of the solid phase resulting from the autohydrolysis process was examined. Autohydrolysis of the raw material at a liquid/solid ratio of 8 kg water/kg material at 180 degrees C for 30 min was found to provide a commercially useful liquid phase containing most of the starting hemicellulose. The autohydrolysis treatment allowed the subsequent production of soda-anthraquinone cellulose pulp and paper with properties as good as or even better than those obtained without the pretreatment.