Yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipiferaL.)grown in Korea versus imported Eucalyptus globules as a raw material for kraft pulping

Abstract

Yellow poplar grown in Korea and imported eucalyptus were compared their kraft pulping characteristics and evaluated the replacing possibility of eucalyptus by yellow poplar. Difference between yellow poplar and eucalyptus were investigated in chemical composition and fiber morphology. Yellow poplar kraft pulp resulted in the higher yield, longer fiber length and thicker fiber, and higher pulp strength than that of eucalyptus. More xylan survived in eucalyptus than yellow poplar during kraft pulping, which led to similar pulp yield even though polysaccharides in Eucalyptus was 4.5% less than in yellow poplar. Longer and thicker yellow poplar pulp fiber resulted in better beating response and pulp strength properties.