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This study investigates the operating conditions used in the sodaanthraquinone pulping of Eucalyptus globulus wood after autohydrolysis pretreatment on the yield, kappa number, and brightness of the resulting unbleached pulp. Moreover, strength-related properties of the resulting handsheets was examined to identify the best pulping conditions and compare the outcome with that of a conventional soda-anthraquinone pulping process. The paper strength properties of the pulp were similar to or better than papers made from soda-AQ delignified pulps conducted in a single step. Also, a liquid fraction with a substantial content in hemicellulosic extracts was recovered in the simplified process. Autohydrolysis of the raw material facilitates carrying out soda-AQ pulping under milder conditions. In addition, autohydrolysis improves other properties relative to paper from raw cellulose pulp. Yield, kappa number, and brightness for pulp from solid residues of autohydrolysed eucalyptus wood were similar to those for pulp from untreated eucalyptus wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cationizations of galactomannan- and xylan-type hemicelluloses were performed in a solid state, with 2,3-epoxypropyltrimethylammonium chloride (ETA) as the cationic reagent under alkaline conditions. By this method, the reaction efficiency was significantly increased for all hemicellulose types, up to 90% in the case of xylan. The consumption of reagents was reduced by a factor of ten when compared to the reaction in liquid phase, while comparable values of the degree of substitution (DS) were obtained. By reducing the number of purification steps, the consumption of solvents was limited, and high mass yields were preserved. By all aspects, this method constitutes an economical and environmental gain for the cationization reaction of hemicelluloses. Native hemicelluloses and their cationic derivatives were tested as additives to the pulp slurry in order to increase the dry strength of the paper formed. The cationization of hemicelluloses had a beneficial effect on the mechanical properties of paper, with a supplementary gain of properties compared to the unmodified polysaccharides. Cationic derivatives of a DS 0.3 gave the best results for both polysaccharides, with the galactomannan-type being more efficient than the xylan-type with a 90% increase of the burst index. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this work, we characterized Hesperaloe funifera; pulp and paper obtained by subjecting the plant raw material to soda, soda–anthraquinone, ethanolamine, ethyleneglycol and diethyleneglycol cooking. In addition, the solid fractions extracted by acidifying the cooking liquors, rich in lignin, were used to obtain synthesis and fuel gases. The contents in lignin, α-cellulose, holocellulose, hemicellulose, ethanol–benzene extractives, hot water solubles, 1% NaOH solubles and ash of H. funifera were found to be 7.3%, 40.9%, 76.5%, 35.6%, 4.0%, 13.5%, 29.5% and 5.9%, respectively. The mean fibre length, 4.19 mm, exceeds those for some non-wood materials. Hesperaloe pulp obtained by cooking with 10% NaOH and 1% anthraquinone at 155 °C for 30 min exhibited good values of yield (48.3%), viscosity (737 mL g−1), Kappa number (15.2), tensile index (83.6 Nm g−1), stretch (3.8%), burst index (7.34 kN g−1) and tear index (3.20 mNm2 g−1). Acidification to pH 6 of the liquor resulting from the soda pulping of 500 g of plant raw material provided an amount of 13.90 g of lignin-rich solids pyrolysis of which gave a gas mixture containing 1.13% H2, 31.79% CO and 1.86% CH4 by weight. Gasification of the same sample provided a mixture containing 0.18% H2, 24.50% CO and 17.75% CH4, also by weight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most abundant natural polymers in nature, polysaccharides have the potential to replace petroleum-based polymers that are difficult to degrade in paper coatings. Polysaccharide molecules have a large number of hydroxyl groups that can bind strongly with paper fibers through hydrogen bonds. Chemical modification can also effectively improve the mechanical, barrier, and hydrophobic properties of polysaccharide-based coating layers and thus can further improve the related properties of coated paper. Polysaccharides can also give paper additional functional properties by dispersing and adhering functional fillers, e.g., conductive particles, catalytic particles or antimicrobial chemicals, onto paper surface. Based on these, this paper reviews the application of natural polysaccharides, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, starch, chitosan, and sodium alginate, and their derivatives in paper coatings. This paper analyzes the improvements and influences of chemical structures and properties of polysaccharides on the mechanical, barrier, and hydrophobic properties of coated paper. This paper also summarizes the researches where polysaccharides are used as the adhesives to adhere inorganic or functional fillers onto paper surface to endow paper with great surface properties or special functions such as conductivity, catalytic, antibiotic, and fluorescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]