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Hemicellulose-rich paper-grade pulp as raw material for regenerated fibres in an ionic liquid-based process.

Authors :
Spönla, Elisa
Hannula, Simo
Kamppuri, Taina
Holopainen-Mantila, Ulla
Sulaeva, Irina
Potthast, Antje
Harlin, Ali
Grönqvist, Stina
Rahikainen, Jenni
Source :
Cellulose; Dec2023, Vol. 30 Issue 18, p11407-11423, 17p
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Hemicellulose-rich pulp raw materials are avoided in the production of man-made cellulosic textile fibres due to hemicellulose reactivity with the currently used industrial solvent systems. Incorporation of hemicelluloses in regenerated fibres could, however, increase the share of used wood biomass and thus improve the environmental footprint of regenerated fibre products. Superbase ionic liquids have shown potential in dissolving and regenerating all the major wood polymers i.e. cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin into regenerated products. In this work, regenerated fibres were spun from hemicellulose-rich softwood and eucalyptus paper-grade pulps and eucalyptus dissolving pulp using a superbase ionic liquid [mTBNH][OAc]. Before dissolution and spinning, intrinsic viscosities of the paper-grade pulps were adjusted either enzymatically or by using a mild acid-treatment to improve dope rheology for dry-jet wet spinning. In fibre spinning, hemicellulose was found to regenerate in high yield and the obtained regenerated fibres had high dry tenacities (5.3 to 15 cN/dtex). The best mechanical properties were measured from fibres with high hemicellulose content (17.3% (w/w)). Pulp pretreatment was found to be critical for achieving good mechanical properties. Acid-pretreatment, which modified both cellulose and hemicellulose, yielded regenerated fibres with better mechanical properties compared to an enzyme-pretreatment which did not alter the hemicellulose structure. Removal of hemicellulose substituents and hydrolysis of hemicellulose backbone in acid-pretreatment may be the key to improved mechanical properties in hemicellulose-containing regenerated fibres. Enzymatic peeling and imaging with a xylan-specific monoclonal antibody (CCRC-M138) suggest that hemicelluloses were enriched to the outermost layers of the regenerated fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
09690239
Volume :
30
Issue :
18
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Cellulose
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
173964083
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-023-05589-8