title: Enhancing hemicelluloses removal from a softwood sulfite pulp.
abstract: Hemicelluloses removal is highly desirable in many biomass processes, including the pretreatment steps of the bioconversion for ethanol production, production of high-quality dissolving pulps. In this study, a sequential treatment consisting of pulp fractionation, followed by caustic treatment to remove hemicelluloses from a softwood sulfite pulp, was investigated. The long-fiber fraction obtained after pulp fractionation, had a lower hemicelluloses content and smaller specific surface area, but larger pore diameter than the short-fiber fraction. The fiber fractions were subsequently treated in a cold caustic extraction (CCE) or hot caustic extraction (HCE). Results showed that hemicelluloses removal in the long-fiber fraction was more pronounced than the short-fiber fraction in both CCE and HCE processes. Other parameters, such as hemicelluloses removal selectivity, yield were studied. The underlying explanations were given.
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China.
authors.forename: Hongjie
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Duan
authors.affiliation: Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada; Institute of Paper Science and Technology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, Sichuan Province 643000, China.
authors.forename: Yishan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Tianjin Key Laboratory of Pulp and Paper, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada. Electronic address: yonghao@unb.ca.
authors.forename: Yonghao
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ni
mesh_terms: D018533:Biomass; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods; D000431:Ethanol / Q000737:chemistry; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013447:Sulfites / Q000737:chemistry*; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D011134:Polysaccharides; D013447:Sulfites; D000431:Ethanol; C007916:hemicellulose
keywords: Caustic extraction; Dissolving pulp; Fiber fractionation; Fiber morphology; Hemicelluloses removal