Fractionation and cellulase treatment for enhancing the properties of kraft-based dissolving pulp.
The aim of this study was to investigate a combined process involving pulp fractionation and cellulase treatment of each fraction for improving the molecular weight distribution (MWD) and reactivity of a kraft-based dissolving pulp. Three pulp fractions, namely long-fiber, mid-fiber and short-fiber fractions (LF, MF and SF, respectively), were used as the substrates. The results showed that the SF had the highest accessibility, lowest viscosity, and highest cellulase adsorption capacity, while the opposite was true for the LF. At a given viscosity, the combined process led to a lower polydispersity index (3.71 vs 4.98) and a higher Fock reactivity (85.6% vs 76.3%), in comparison to the conventional single-stage cellulase treatment.
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada. Electronic address: duanchaonba@126.com.
Chao
C
Duan
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
Xinqi
X
Wang
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
YanLing
Y
Zhang
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
Yongjian
Y
Xu
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an 710021, China; Limerick Pulp and Paper Centre, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, New Brunswick E3B 5A3, Canada.
Yonghao
Y
Ni
D000327:Adsorption; D002480:Cellulase / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010316:Particle Size; D014783:Viscosity; D014934:Wood / Q000737:chemistry*
D002480:Cellulase
Cellulase treatment; Dissolving pulp; Fock reactivity; Fractionation; Kraft-based process; Molecular weight distribution