Chlorine dioxide bleaching of pulp from crop residues: Bagasse, kash and corn stalks

Abstract

This investigation describes the effect of hot chlorine dioxide delignification (DHT) of bagasse, kash and corn stalk pulps on pulp properties and effluent quality. The pulps were subjected to DHT at 85 °C for 45 min and the results were compared with those of the D0 process carried out at 70 °C for 45 min. The kappa numbers after the alkaline extraction (Ep) stage in DHT bleaching were always lower and brightness was higher, compared to the corresponding parameters in D0 bleaching, without impacting pulp viscosity. The final brightness of the corn stalk pulp was 84.8% at a kappa factor of 0.25 in the D0 process, while in the DHT process, the same type of pulp reached the brightness of 87.2% at a kappa factor of 0.15, saving 40% ClO2 in the first stage. Similarly, kash pulp exhibited 90% brightness at a kappa factor of 0.15, which also saved 40% ClO2, compared to the conventional D0 process. The brightness of bagasse pulp in DHT and D0 processes was almost similar. Oxygen delignified pulp had a lower effluent discharge than unbleached pulps in subsequent ECF bleaching. The COD value in DHT was lower than that in D0.