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Fiber- and fine fractions-derived effects on pulp quality as a result of mechanical pulp refining consistency

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Abstract

High-yield pulping of wood chips using low-consistency (LC) refining in combination with primary-stage high-consistency (HC) refining has previously been shown to produce paper with quality parameters (tensile strength and light-scattering coefficient) commonly targeted for newsprint with significantly less refining energy input than using only HC refining. However, questions remain on the differences in the refining action between the two refiner types and for high-yield pulping, the refiner energy demand is a crucial process parameter. Therefore, fines- and fiber-fraction development in HC and LC refining has been studied in detail using Bauer-McNett fractionation, and the respective tensile strengths of the different fractions have been compared. Quantitative and qualitative (morphological) characteristics of the isolated fine fractions have also been analyzed in detail using a newly developed automated fluorescence microscopy method and scanning electron microscopy. The results suggest the difference in LC/HC pulp properties (strength and optical) is partly derived from deviating fiber and fines morphologies and mass balances. The quality of the fines generated during HC and LC refining also differs. LC-refined pulps contain thinner fibrillar fines (thread-like) and HC-refined pulps broader fibrils such as lamellae-type fines. Flake-like fines from the outer fiber wall decreased in relative amount with energy input.

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Acknowledgments

This study has partly been conducted within the framework of CRUW (cooperative research on the ultrastructure of wood, which is a VINNOVA and Forest industry financed competence center at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences), and we thank the CRUW mechanical pulp group for valuable discussions. We also thank UBC Pulp and Paper Centre (especially George Soong and Christine Seville) and the staff of the Andritz pilot plant in Springfield (where the first-stage pulp used was performed). Dr. Jens Heymer (AFT), Dr. Antti Luukkonen (Andritz) and Dr. Marc Sabourin (Andritz) are acknowledged for their support during the pilot trials. D.G acknowledges financial support from Gålöstiftelsen, Hans Werthén Fonden and Jansons Legat.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Forest Products, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7008, 75007, Uppsala, Sweden

    Jonas Hafrén, Dinesh Fernando & Geoffrey Daniel

  2. Mechanical Engineering Department, Pulp and Paper Center, University of British Colombia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Dmitri Gorski

  3. Norske Skog Saugbrugs AS, Halden, Norway

    Dmitri Gorski

  4. Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden

    Florian A. Salomons

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  1. Jonas Hafrén
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  2. Dinesh Fernando
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  3. Dmitri Gorski
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  4. Geoffrey Daniel
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  5. Florian A. Salomons
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Correspondence to Jonas Hafrén.

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Hafrén, J., Fernando, D., Gorski, D. et al. Fiber- and fine fractions-derived effects on pulp quality as a result of mechanical pulp refining consistency. Wood Sci Technol 48, 737–753 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-014-0636-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00226-014-0636-1

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