Use of high-boiling point organic solvents for pulping oil palm empty fruit bunches.
Oil palm empty fruit bunches were used as an alternative raw material to obtain cellulosic pulp. Pulping was done by using high-boiling point organic solvents of decreased polluting power relative to classical (Kraft, sulphite) solvents but affording operation at similar pressure levels. The holocellulose, alpha-cellulose and lignin contents of oil palm empty fruit bunches (viz. 66.97%, 47.91% and 24.45%, respectively) are similar to those of some woody raw materials such as pine and eucalyptus, and various non-wood materials including olive tree prunings, wheat straw and sunflower stalks. Pulping tests were conducted by using ethyleneglycol, diethyleneglycol, ethanolamine and diethanolamine under two different sets of operating conditions, namely: (a) a 70% solvent concentration, 170 degrees C and 90 min; and (b) 80% solvent, 180 degrees C and 150 min. The solid/liquid ratio was six in both cases. The amine solvents were found to provide pulp with better properties than did the glycol solvents. Ethanolamine pulp exhibited the best viscosity and drainage index (viz. 636 mL/g and 17 degrees SR, respectively), and paper made from it the best breaking length (1709 m), stretch (1.95%), burst index (0.98 kN/g) and tear index (0.33 mNm(2)/g). Operating costs can be reduced by using milder conditions, which provide similar results. In any case, the amines are to be preferred to the glycols as solvents for this purpose.
Rodríguez
Alejandro
A
Departamento de Ingeniería Química, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Marie-Curie 14071, Córdoba, Spain. q42ropaa@uco.es
Serrano
Luis
L
Moral
Ana
A
Pérez
Antonio
A
Jiménez
Luis
L
D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D002625:Chemistry, Organic / Q000379:methods*; D019856:Ethanolamine / Q000737:chemistry; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000737:chemistry; D019855:Ethylene Glycol / Q000737:chemistry; D005638:Fruit; D008031:Lignin; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry; D000073878:Palm Oil; D010209:Paper; D010938:Plant Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D012997:Solvents / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D014783:Viscosity; D014934:Wood
D004983:Ethanolamines; D009821:Oils; D010938:Plant Oils; D012997:Solvents; D019856:Ethanolamine; D000073878:Palm Oil; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin; C020283:diethanolamine; D019855:Ethylene Glycol