Canadian Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.77, No.3, 515-521, 1999
Methanol-based pulping of Eucalyptus globulus
The autocatalyzed pulping of Eucalyptus globulus wood with methanol-water mixtures was studied. A surface response design was employed to develop mathematical models describing the pulp properties as a function of cooking time, cooking temperature and methanol concentration. The ranges studied for these variables were 40-120 min, 170-200 degrees C and 30-70% (w/w), respectively. The pulp properties modeled were kappa number, total yield, screenings content, screened yield and viscosity. Under the optimum cooking conditions pulps with low kappa number and acceptable viscosity can be obtained with a high yield.