C. Hunt, W. Kenealy, E. Horn, C. Houtman
A biopulping mechanism: Creation of acid groups on fiber
We investigated how biopulping modifies chemical and
physical properties of wood and how these changes
affect the properties of the resulting fiber. Mechanical and
chemical testing revealed wood cell changes during
2 weeks of colonization by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora.
Typical mechanical properties, such as modulus of elasticity
and maximum load, tracked reductions in energy
needed for mechanical refining to pulp. The data indicate
the fiber saturation point of spruce increased from 29%
to 42% during biopulping. At the same time, titratable
acid groups increased up to 62%. Chemical analysis
showed that oxalic acid esters were produced in the
wood during biopulping in sufficient amounts to account
for the increase in acid groups. The benefits of biopulping?energy savings and increased handsheet strength?as
well as other physical property changes are consistent
with the mechanism we propose: biopulping increases
the acid group content of wood.
Holzforschung, Walter de Gruyter
Print ISSN: 0018-3830
Volume: 58, 07/2004
Pages: 434 - 439
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