title: The effects of fungi pre-treatment of poplar chips on the kraft fiber properties.
abstract: Poplar chips were pre-treated by Trametes versicolor for 1, 2 and 3 weeks. Pre-treated chips, after washing, have been air dried for kraft pulping to achieve pulp kappa number of about 20. Pulp samples have been analyzed by Bauer Mc Nett, Kajaani analyzer and SEM. The results indicated that fungi pre-treatment of chips can degrade lignin and carbohydrates and affect kraft pulping and fiber characteristics. Higher chemical charge in pulping, lower fine and higher long fiber fraction were observed in pre-treated pulp samples in comparison with others. Fiber length, cross sectional area, width, cell wall thickness and volume index were increased by increasing pre-treatment time while fine length, fiber coarseness and curl have been reduced. Based on the study findings, with respect to higher fiber length, lower fine, and lower fiber curl and coarseness, 2-weeks pre-treatment of chips was recommended to produce acceptable overall fiber properties in kraft pulping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulp and Paper, Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources (GUASNR), Gorgan, Iran. rasooly2000@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Esmaeil Rasooly
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Garmaroody
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Resalati
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fardim
authors.forename: Seyyed Ziaeddin
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Hosseini
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rahnama
authors.forename: Ahmad Reza
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Saraeeyan
authors.forename: Seyyed Ahmad
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Mirshokraee
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D007492:Iran; D008031:Lignin / Q000378:metabolism*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010209:Paper; D032107:Populus / Q000378:metabolism*; D013696:Temperature; D055454:Trametes / Q000378:metabolism*; D014934:Wood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C076151:Kraft lignin; D008031:Lignin