title: Integration of a kraft pulping mill into a forest biorefinery: pre-extraction of hemicellulose by steam explosion versus steam treatment.
abstract: Growing interest in alternative and renewable energy sources has brought increasing attention to the integration of a pulp mill into a forest biorefinery, where other products could be produced in addition to pulp. To achieve this goal, hemicelluloses were extracted, either by steam explosion or by steam treatment, from Eucalyptus globulus wood prior to pulping. The effects of both pre-treatments in the subsequent kraft pulping and paper strength were evaluated. Results showed a similar degree of hemicelluloses extraction with both options (32-67% of pentosans), which increased with the severity of the conditions applied. Although both pre-treatments increased delignification during pulping, steam explosion was significantly better: 12.9 kappa number vs 22.6 for similar steam unexploded pulps and 40.7 for control pulp. Finally, similar reductions in paper strength were found regardless of the type of treatment and conditions assayed, which is attributed to the increase of curled and kinked fibers.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA, Carretera de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain. Electronic address: martin.raquel@inia.es.
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Martin-Sampedro
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA, Carretera de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Maria E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Eugenio
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA, Carretera de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Jassir A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA, Carretera de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Esteban
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Revilla
authors.affiliation: Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria INIA, Carretera de la Coruña, km 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Villar
mesh_terms: D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002482:Cellulose / Q000737:chemistry; D005591:Chemical Fractionation; D005052:Eucalyptus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects; D006868:Hydrolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry; D010209:Paper; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D013227:Steam; D013718:Tensile Strength / Q000187:drug effects; D014197:Trees / Q000737:chemistry*; D014783:Viscosity / Q000187:drug effects; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D013227:Steam; D014867:Water; D012972:Sodium Hydroxide; C007916:hemicellulose; D002482:Cellulose; D008031:Lignin
keywords: Autohydrolysis; Biorefineries; Eucalyptus globulus; Kraft pulping; Steam explosion