Effect of microwave-involved ClO2 bleaching on the characteristics of lipophilic extractives of bleached Eucalyptus globulus pulps

Abstract

The preparation of bleached pulp from Eucalyptus globulus pulp was evaluated after utilizing chlorine dioxide (ClO2) with or without microwave irradiation. The three ClO2-bleaching processes examined were water-bath heating; microwave heating; and microwave pretreatment combined with water-bath heating. These processes were applied to eucalypt pulps that were oxygen-delignified. The effects of the treatments on the levels of lipophilic extractives and properties of the resulting pulps were compared with one another. The microwave-induced treatment had a remarkable effect, leading to an increase in pulp brightness and a decrease in lipophilic extractives when compared with the control (i.e., A). The sample under the condition of microwave pretreatment combined with water-bath heating achieved a higher brightness and reduced lipophilic extractives, which were increased by 45.8% and reduced by 37.4%, respectively. This study demonstrated an effective microwave-pretreated method in ClO2 bleaching process, which provides a promising route for alleviating pitch deposition problems occurring during pulp manufacture.