Energy saving potential of high yield pulp (HYP) application by addition of small amounts of bleached wheat straw pulp

Abstract

High-yield pulp (HYP) has found wide applications in many paper grades. Usually, the strength properties of HYP must be improved and its freeness fine-tuned before sending it for paper machining, by means of refining at a low consistency, which requires energy. In this study, the possibility of avoiding refining of HYP was investigated by adding low percentages of refined and bleached wheat straw pulp (BWSP) to a HYP-containing mixture. The results show that the strength properties of a HYP and a hardwood kraft (HWKP) mixture can be improved with approximately 10% refined BWSP. In this manner, refining energy of 20 kWh t^-1 is needed, and the pulp quality is improved to a similar level to that obtained from the same pulp mixture refined with an energy input of 70 kWh t^-1. This approach also works for 100% HYP. The practical implication is that only a small percentage of refined BWSP is needed to improve the strength property of a HYP or HYP/HWKP mixtures, so that less refining energy is required in the low-consistency refining process.