Effect of the chemical and structural characteristics of pulps of Eucalyptus and Pinus on the deconstruction of the cell wall during the production of cellulose nanofibrils

Abstract

The species Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus nitens and Pinus radiata, are important supplies for the production of cellulose pulp in the world market, which can be used for the production of cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs). Understanding how the characteristics of different raw materials affect the production and final properties of nanofibrillated celluloses is very useful, both for the pulp industry and for the end user. The aim of this research was to determine how the chemical and structural differences of the commercial Kraft pulps of E. globulus, E. nitens and P. radiata affect the production and the morphological and rheological characteristics of the CNFs produced through an enzymatic-mechanical process. On one hand, the results showed that pine fibers were easier to deconstruct than eucalyptus fibers, however, pine CNFs were found to have the largest fibril width and a lower aspect ratio (length /width). On the other hand, the pulp of E. globulus, was the one that obtained a better aspect ratio and higher intrinsic viscosity.