Organosolv Pulping of Poplar Wood From Short-Rotation Intensive Culture Plantations

This study investigates the suitability of the ethanol organosolv process to pulp poplar wood from short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) plantations. Wood chips were prepared from 9-year-old SRIC debarked poplar logs (Populus deltoides x trichocarpa 'Donk'), and they were subjected to ethanol/ water organosolv pulping in lab-scale batch reactors. The effect of the main process variables (i.e., time, temperature, ethanol concentration) on the pulp yield and quality was examined. Upon process optimization, the papermaking properties of the pulp obtained were determined.The most selective conditions in terms of delignification and pulp viscosity were found at an ethanol concentration of 60% (v/v) in water, a pulping time of 210 min and, a temperature of 195 C. Under these conditions, good delignification was achieved (kappa no. 20.2), with pulp yields of 54.3%, and degree of polymerization (DP) values ranging from 1,900 to 2,000. The strength properties of hand-sheets made from the SRIC poplar organosolv pulp were in the same range, except for a lower tear factor, as those reported for hardwood (semi-) chemical pulps. The results obtained indicate the promising potentials of the organosolv process for the chemical pulping of fast-grown poplar wood cultivated in short rotations