The kinetics of residual delignification and factors affecting the amount of residual lignin during kraft pulping

• Kraft pulping of softwood can be divided into three phases: the initial, the bulk and the residual delignification phases. The rate of delignification in the residual phase and the amount of lignin to be removed in this slow phase have been studied as a function of the conditions in the kraft cooking of Norwegian spruce chips, Picea abies. The variables studied were concentration of OH-, concentration of HS-, ionic strength and temperature. The amount of lignin remaining undissolved in the wood residue at the transition from bulk to residual delignification is decreased by increasing the concentration of OH- and by increasing the concentration of HS- in the bulk phase. The amount of residual lignin is also decreased by a lower ionic strength in the bulk phase. The temperature in the range of 150 to 180 degrees C affected the lignin content at the transition from bulk to residual delignification but not the amount of residual lignin extrapolated to the beginning of the cook. Only the hydroxide ion concentration and the temperature seem to have an influence on the rate of delignification in the residual phase. The rate of delignification in the residual phase is well described by the following equation: dL(r)/dt = (0.0032 + 0.0020 . [OH-]) (. e) -146 000/8.314 . (1/T - 1/443.15)(Lr).

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