Dissolving pulp from eucalyptus sawdust for regenerated cellulose products

Abstract

This study assesses the possibility of obtaining regenerated cellulose products (beads and films) from eucalyptus sawdust dissolving pulps produced by non-conventional processes, compared with a commercial dissolving pulp as a reference. Eucalyptus sawdust dissolving pulps were obtained by soda pulping followed by two TCF sequential bleaching processes OOpZ, and OOp, followed by a cold soda extraction. The characterization of dissolving pulps involved alpha-, beta- and gamma-cellulose content, alkali solubility with 10 wt% (S10), and 18 wt% NaOH (S18) aqueous solutions, and degree of polymerization. Fock´s method was used to measure cellulose reactivity and the alkali solubility in a 9 wt% NaOH aqueous solution at − 5 °C to evaluate the pulps dissolving capacity. Dissolving pulps presented high cellulose content (> 93%, expressed as α-cellulose) and good reactivity (almost 8%). The dissolving pulps were adequate raw materials for regenerated cellulose products (beads and films) from two cellulose dissolution methods: direct dissolution in NaOH/urea and cellulose carbamate solution. The sequence OOpE (where E is an alkaline extraction) was more economically feasible and straightforward to produce dissolving pulp than OOpZE. The experimental pulps showed the expected characteristics of the dissolving pulp to obtain regenerated cellulose products. However, it is necessary to deepen the study of producing regenerated cellulose films with enhanced mechanical properties from experimental dissolving pulps, solvents, coagulation, and regeneration conditions.