The feasibility of enhancing the efficiency of the kraft pulping operations while at the same time evolving the process into a biorefinery, and thus producing hemicelluloses together with paper products, was studied. Hardwood chips (Eucalyptus grandis) were pre-treated with green liquor prior to pulp production. At optimal pre-treatment conditions, the pH of the resulting extract was 7.8, the w...

A formic/acetic acid/water system was used in the ratios of 30:60:10, 20:60:20, and 30:50:20 separately for efficient hydrolysis and bioconversion of poplar chips, under the solid/liquid ratio of 1:12(g/ml), at 105 C for 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 min, respectively. The highest yield of 69.89% was at a formic/acetic acid /water ratio of 30:50:20(v/v/v), with solid/liquid in the ratio of 1:12(g/ml) ...

The kraft process is applied to wood chips for separation of lignin from the polysaccharides within lignocellulose for pulp that will produce a high quality paper. Black liquor is a pulping waste generated by the kraft process that has potential for downstream bioconversion. However, the recalcitrant nature of the lignocellulose resources, its chemical derivatives that constitute the majority o...

Over the past ten years there has been a research renaissance in hemicellulose chemistry as it applies to pulping and bleaching operations. Researchers have identified hemicelluloses as an important component influencing pulp yields, strength properties, and pulp bleachability. This report summarizes the research activities undertaken at IPST in the dues funded research consortium (DFRC) projec...