Evaluating chelating agents and their effects on cellulosic pulps during P-stage bleaching. Part 1: analytical method development

Abstract During peroxide bleaching of pulp (“P-stage”), the heavy metal ions must be removed from and inactivated by chelation before to prevent undesired degradation cellulose reactive oxygen species. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) is mostly used as a chelating agent; however, it may soon banned because environmental concerns. Therefore, there demand for new agents replace EDTA, comprehensive analytical method necessary investigate their ability effects on pulp. In this study, an sequence evaluating oxidative damage during (Q-stage) (P-stage) has been established optimized. GPC provides molar mass distribution (as profiles carbonyl groups relative distribution), content was determined ICP-OES. This enables analysis potential agents, with simultaneous determination impact molecular level. Graphical abstract