Editorial: Cellulose dissolution and regeneration: systems and interactions

The interest in cellulose dissolution and regeneration is old but this topic has recently attracted strongly renewed attention. This is reflected in both applications- earlier and novel- and scientific controversies. This special issue attempts to connect a renewed fundamental understanding of molecular aspects with practical systems for dissolution and regeneration

Effect of sodium ion concentration profile during softwood kraft pulping on delignification rate, xylan retention and reactions of hexenuronic acids

The objective of this investigation was to study how different concentration profiles of sodium ions influence the delignification rate, hexenuronic acid formation/degradation and xylan retention under kraft cooking conditions. The concentration of sodium ions was varied in time between 0.52 and 3.00 mol/kg solvent, taking two different routes by the controlled addition of sodium carbonate. The reaction rates of hexenuronic acid were found to increase when the sodium ion concentration was at the higher level. Furthermore, the results implied that the kinetics of hexenuronic acid reactions responds rapidly to changes in sodium ion concentration. Delignification and the removal rates of xylan decreased rapidly after the sodium ion concentration was increased. However, when the sodium ion concentration was decreased, the response to the change was delayed. These findings indicate that effects of ionic strength on the rate of delignification and removal of xylan arise as a consequence of changes in solubility and on mass transport phenomena rather than from the rates of chemical reaction. Furthermore, the results suggest that non-dissolved xylan located in the fibre wall matrix may also sorb on cellulose surfaces relatively early on in the cook if the concentration of sodium ions is at high level

Pyrolysis oils from CO2 precipitated Kraft lignin

A common goal in present and future forestry, biofuels and biomaterials practices, is the need to valorize lignocellulose processes to maximize value and optimize autonomic economy. Consequently, a key focus of modern biorefining is the on-site utilization of all residual materials generating products of the highest possible value. The LignoBoost process, recently demonstrated on the pilot-scale at Kraft pulp mills, injects CO(2) into pulping liquors which results in a lower solution pH and thereby precipitates lignin. The present paper compares and evaluates the pyrolysis of pulping liquor lignins precipitated by sulfuric acid (pH 3) and the aforementioned CO(2) method (pH 10.5 and 9.5). The CO(2) based process yielded lignin that showed superior pyrolysis properties including low gas formation and increased bio-oil yields, close to 40%, consisting primarily of low (similar to 150 g mol(-1)) molecular weight compounds. Subsequent NMR analysis showed that the oils exhibit favorable changes in functionalities, e. g. loss of aromatic and gain in aliphatic carbon percentages as well as decrease in carboxyl and methoxyl (oxygen containing) groups. Moreover, NMR results further confirmed previously hypothesized lignin pyrolysis reactions, while at the same time showed the potential of CO(2) precipitated lignin for pyrolysis and subsequent liquid biofuel production

Filtration properties of kraft lignin: The influence of xylan and precipitation conditions

LignoBoost lignin powder was dissolved together with xylan and re-precipitated. The influence of the (i) precipitation temperature, (ii) rate of acidification and (iii) final pH of the slurries on the resulting material and its filtration properties was investigated. In the case of slow acidification, larger agglomerates were obtained for slurries with higher precipitation temperatures as well as with higher ionic strengths. Fast acidification led to a more heterogeneous formation of particles, having a broader particle size distribution, compared to slow acidification. Chemical analysis of different layers of the filter cakes formed revealed that xylan was distributed evenly on the solid lignin, reinforcing the hypothesis that xylan is sorbed onto the lignin agglomerates when precipitated together with lignin. Furthermore, the resulting lignin-xylan mixtures were found to be more difficult to filter in the case of a higher final pH of the slurry (pH 4), close to the pKa values of the carboxylic acid groups of xylan, compared to lower pH values (pH 1-3). This is likely the result of an increase in electrostatic repulsive interactions between the particles/agglomerates at higher pH: a locally more porous solid structure is formed, leading to a larger solid/liquid surface area during filtration