Presence of Calcium Cations Stimulate Alkaline Hydrolysis of Cellulose During Kraft Pulping Conditions

• Simulated kraft pulping has been performed on cotton linters fibers consisting of almost pure cellulose with varying content of calcium ions. These concentrations were obtained by soaking and drying cotton linters in calcium sulfate solutions. The viscosities of the pulped fibers were generally lower with higher calcium ion concentration and, therefore, in line with earlier suggested ideas that calcium ions could catalyze alkaline hydrolysis. The technical importance of these results is discussed.

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ovr (subject category)