Alkaline sulphite anthraquinone pulping of caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis L.) chips with added sodium borohydride and ethanol

The study determined and compared the yield, viscosity, and chemical and physical properties of the pulps obtained as a result of Alkaline Sulfite–Anthraquinone (AS-AQ) pulping of Caucasian spruce wood with and without the addition of sodium borohydride (ASAB process) and ethanol (ASAE). It was found that the addition of ethanol to the AS-AQ pulping had a favourable influence on the screened yield and kappa number of the pulps. The addition of NaBH4 to the AS-AQ pulping in general also had a favourable influence on these pulps’ indices, provided that the amount added was not higher than 1–2% and the time of pulping was 180 mins. The higher yield of the ASAE pulps resulted from the higher retention of both cellulose and hemicelluloses, while the higher yield of ASAB pulps resulted from the higher retention of hemicelluloses and lignin. Regarding the AS-AQ pulping conditions, a distinct negative effect of modification on the viscosity of the pulps was observed in the case of the NaBH4 a additions to this pulping process. The viscosity reduction was, however, lower with extended pulping time. The static strength properties (tensile index and burst index) of the ASAB and ASAE pulps were in general lower than the AS-AQ pulps. In the case of the tear index, the tendency was similar. The addition of ethanol and especially NaBH4 to the AS-AQ pulping had a distinctly unfavourable influence on the whiteness and brightness of the pulps.