Pulp delignification and refining: impact on the supramolecular structure of softwood fibers

The effect on softwood fiber wall nanostructure of kraft cooking, oxygen delignification and refining was evaluated by X-ray scattering. A recently developed simulation method for modelling small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data was used to estimate the apparent average sizes of solids (AAPS) and interstitial spaces in the fiber wall (AACS). Fiber saturation point and wide angle X-ray scattering were also used to calculate the pore volume in the fiber wall and the crystallite size of the fibril, respectively. The experimental modelled SAXS data was able to give consistent values for each kraft-cooked and oxygen-delignified pulp. Kraft delignification seems to have the major influence on the fiber nanostructure modification, while oxygen delignification has little or no significant impact even for different kappa numbers. The particle sizes values were more stable than the cavities sizes and no significant differences were seen between different delignification processes, refining or delignification degree. Pulps evaluated after PFI-refining, showed an increase in the fiber wall porosity evaluated by FSP and an increase in the interstitial spaces in the fiber wall, while the crystallite size and the particle sizes were very little or not affected at all.

Automated summary

The effect of kraft cooking, oxygen delignification, and refining on the softwood fiber wall nanostructure was evaluated using X-ray scattering. Kraft delignification was found to have a major influence on the fiber nanostructure modification, while oxygen delignification had little impact. Particle sizes were more stable compared to cavity sizes, and there were no significant differences among different delignification processes or refining degrees.