Effect of steam explosion and enzymatic pre-treatments on pulping and bleaching of Hesperaloe funifera

A non-wood raw material with high potential for pulp and paper applications (Hesperaloe funifera) was subjected to a steam explosion pre-treatment, and the subsequent effect of this pretreatment on biopulping and biobleaching was studied. An increase in the delignification rate, bigger than that reported for autohydrolysis and acid hydrolysis pre-treatments, and a reduction in chemical consumption were found during kraft pulping of the exploded samples. However, biopulping with the laccase-mediator system (LMS) did not lead to a reduction in the kappa number in either non-exploded or exploded unbleached pulps. On the other hand, the steam explosion pretreatment boosted the advantages of the LMS pre-treatment (decrease in kappa number and increase in brightness) favored biobleaching, with a 53.1% delignification rate and a final brightness of 67% ISO. Finally, the steam explosion pre-treatment also improved the color properties of the bleached pulp and reduced the hydrogen peroxide consumption by 24.6%. © 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Martín-Sampedro, R., Eugenio Martín, María Eugenia, Villar, J. C.
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	Elsevier 2012
Subjects:	Hesperaloe funifera, Biopulping, Biobleaching, Steam explosion, Laccase,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/2805 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/291245
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