ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Effect of ethyl acetate on carbohydrate components and crystalline structure of pulp produced in aqueous acetic acid pulping

Esat Gümüşkaya, Mustafa Usta, and Mualla Balaban Uçar

Department of Pulp and Paper, Faculty of Forestry, Karadeniz Technical University, 61080 Trabzon, Turkey

E-mail: gkaya@ktu.edu.tr

Received: 9 July 2008  Revised: 26 August 2008  Accepted: 4 September 2008

Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in carbohydrate components and the crystalline structure in hemp bast fibers by adding ethyl acetate to acetic acid/water pulping processes. It was found that ethyl acetate added to acetic acid/water process had a positive effect on yield, viscosity and carbohydrate components in pulp. It was assumed that the delignification ratio increased by adding ethyl acetate to aqueous acetic acid pulping. Xylose content in hemp bast fibers was affected more negatively in the ethyl acetate/acetic acid/water process than in the acetic acid/water one. Crystallinity and crystallite size were higher in pulp sample obtained by the acetic acid/water process without ethyl acetate.

Keywords: cellulose - hemicelluloses - crystallinity - X-ray - ethyl acetate

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.2478/s11696-009-0007-9

Chemical Papers 63 (3) 284–290 (2009)