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Rice straw is supposed to be one of the most important lignocellulosic raw materials for pulp mill in Asian countries. The major problem in rice straw pulping is silica. The present research is focused on the separation of silica from the black liquor of rice straw pulping by potassium hydroxide (KOH) and pulp evaluation. Optimum KOH pulping conditions of rice straw were alkali charge 12% as NaOH, cooking temperature 150°C for 2h and material to liquor ratio, 1:6. At this condition pulp yield was 42.4% with kappa number 10.3. KOH pulp bleached to 85% brightness by D0EpD1 bleaching sequences with ClO2 consumption of 25kg/ton of pulp. Silica and lignin were separated from the black liquor of KOH pulping. The amount of recovered silica, lignin and hemicelluloses were 10.4%, 8.4% and 13.0%. The papermaking properties of KOH pulp from rice straw were slightly better than those of corresponding NaOH pulp., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Effects of both pre-treatment and number of steps in KOH activation of raw rice straw (RS) on textural and adsorption properties of RS-derived activated carbons (ACs) were investigated. Three pre-treatment protocols were tested: mechanical, chemical by NaOH pulping, and a combination of both. Activation of RS-based materials was investigated, at a constant temperature of 800 degrees C, according to two ways: a 1-step simultaneous carbonisation-activation with KOH, and a 2-steps process: carbonisation followed by activation by KOH. 2-Steps KOH activation was more efficient in producing activated carbons with high surface areas and high methylene blue adsorption than 1-step KOH activation. Additionally, 2-steps KOH activation increased the yield of activated carbons having moderate ash content (8-14%). Surface areas as high as 1917 m(2)/g were obtained when the combined mechanical-chemical pre-treatment method and a 2-steps activation process were carried out.