BINDURA UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE EDUCATION

FACAULTY OF SCIENCE

CHEMISTRY DEPARTMENT

STUDENT NAME : MIKE VHURINOSHARA

REG NUMBER : B1748924
LEVEL : 4.1
COURSE CODE : CH 402
COURSE DESCRIPTION : PULP AND PAPER TECHNOLOGY
LECTURER : DR MUCHANYEREI
DUE DATE : 14-09-2020
1. Write brief notes on the following wood components Lignin and
Hemicelluloses
a. Lignin is an irregular polyphenolic polymer synthesized by dehydrogenative
polymerization of phenyl propanoid units. It is component present in wood with
an inter-fiber bonding activity. Lignin is three dimensional and a cross linked
polymer of heterogeneous structure comprising of predominantly n- propyl
benzene units joined by a variety of ether and carbon-carbon links. Lignin is also
less directly a derivative of glucose. The color of lignin (brown) is determinant of
the high aromatic phenolic content in the polymer. They are also relatively readily
oxidized. In situ, Lignin do not have a known molecular weight. If isolated, the
molecular weights range from 1000-20000 depending on the origin and method
of determination. Lignin is stable in most mineral salts acids but is soluble in hot
aqueous base and hot aqueous bisulphite ion. It has a low softening temperature
from 80-90 degrees Celsius when wet and 120 degrees Celsius when dry and
melting point ranges 140-150 degrees Celsius. Chemically, lignin is different
depending on the type of tree and location of the tree.
(b). Hemicelluloses are amorphous branched polysaccharides of a variety of
sugars which are soluble in aqueous alkali and have relatively lower molecular
weight than cellulose. Nomenclature of hemicelluloses is determinant of the
sugar monomer from which the polymer is composed. Composition and content
differ from type of tree and location. Structure of hemicellulose is poorly defined
because extraction and isolation modifies it. Hemicelluloses are important in
paper making in that they improve inter fiber bonding and also that they are
amorphous and have a lower molecular weight. Hemicelluloses are less stable to
acids and alkali than cellulose.
2. Discuss the importance of debarking and chipping as important stages in
preparation of wood for pulping
Debarking is a process of bark removal from a harvested log or tree for use in
paper making. It is important in that it reduces production of a highly colored,
non-fibrous constituent to the pulp. Chipping is the reduction in size of a
whole log to chips of about 2.5 to 0.5 cm thick. The reason being to improve
handling of wood within mill complex by conveyor belts and pneumatic
 systems. Also, chipping increases the surface area for the direct physical
conversion to fibers and easy penetration of heat.
3. Describe how wood debarking is carried out in a Drum debarker and In-line
debarker.

(a) A drum debarker is usually used in debarking of a small log. A drum debarker is
a steel cylinder which is 3-4 meters in diameter and 15-25 meters long. It is placed
on a slightly sloping axis and is capable of rotating on its axis. It is fitted with log
tumbling baffles inside and has longitudinal slots cut into periphery to allow bark
fragments to fall out or be flushed out with water. Barks are of logs are removed
through abrasion and impact attrition. The debarked logs are removed from the
outlet gate. Drum debarkers can be operated dry or wet producing a high fuel or
low fuel bark by-product respectively.
(b) An inline debarker is usually used for the removal of a bark of one log at a time
being rotated axially while at the same time being rotated slowly on its axis. At
the same time, rapidly rotating chain flails beat the barks off or a water jet
operating at 1000 psi or higher is directed to the woo/bark interface. One another
version of an inline debarker employs a large stout ring filled with knives pointing
radially inwards. The log is moved axially while the knives revolve around the log
in a lathe like fashion cutting off the barks.
4. (i) Opacity is the measure of transparency or impermeability to
electromagnetic or other kinds of radiation. It is obtained by dividing the
reflectance of the sheet when backed by a black body by the reflectance of the
sheet when backed by a white body having a reflectance of 98% and
expressing as a percentage
(ii) Burst factor is the pressure developed by a fluid required to split open a
sample of paper when it covers a circular hole of 1.2 cm in diameter protected
by a rubber diaphragm. It is calculated by dividing burst by the basis weight.
(iii) Breaking length is the length at which a strip of paper is self-supporting
when held vertically. It is obtained from the tensile strength and material
density measurements.
 (iv) Canadian standard freeness (CSF) is the measure of the ease of water flow
through a standard perforated plate specified in milliliters, from a one liter
pulp sample at 20 degrees Celsius and 0.3% consistency.
(v) Brightness is the measure of the overall reflectivity of a paper to white
light.
(vi) Tear factor is tensile force in grams required to continue a tear that has
already been started in a single sheet of paper. It is obtained by dividing tear
by the basis weight.
5. What do you understand by thermomechanical pulping? Outline the
advantages of thermomechanical pulping over conventional mechanical
pulping and chemical pulping?
Thermochemical pulping is the process by which chips are preheated before being
refined to reduce power consumption and produce a longer fibered pulp. The raw
materials for thermomechanical pulping are first washed to remove grit and
digested with steam at a temperature above 100 degree Celsius and a pressure
range of 170-315 KPa for 2-3 minutes. Under the same pressure, with a water
content of 60-75%, the fragmented wood is then refined and pressure is released
producing a fluffed up bulky pulp. Thermomechanical pulping produces a longer
average fiber length, high strength fiber, lower fines, higher yield compared to
chemical pulping and it uses less power
6. Discuss the important properties of cellulose that makes it a suitable raw
material for paper making process and the properties of paper.
Cellulose is a component of wood formed by the elimination of water from β-
monomers of two cyclic forms of glucose. Cellulose has a linear form which favors
the formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonds which makes fibers composed of
cellulose strong. It also has a high molecular weight which gives rise to strong
intermolecular forces and hence becomes insoluble in water hence does not
degrade when treated with water during preparation of wood for pulping. Also, a
high molecular weight leads to strong intermolecular forces hence high melting
points which is an advantage in that it can be refined using thermomechanical
pulping processes.
7. Extractives comprise of 3–8% by weight of dry wood. Explain the problems
that can be presented by extractives of wood in paper the making process.
Extractives are miscellaneous non-polymeric, or very low molecular weight
polymeric materials, which are soluble in cold water. These can lead to the
formation of fatty acids from some species of wood during pulping which can
cause foaming problems during pulping or waste disposal. Also formation of fatty
acids and resin acids from oxidized terpenes causes equipment corrosion.
REFERENCES
1. K.V. Sarkanen and C.H. Ludwig, eds., ‘‘Lignins, Occurrence, Formation,
Structure, Reactions.’’Wiley Interscience, Toronto, 1971.
2. B.C. Saha, R.J. Bothast, in Encyclopedia of Microbiology (Third Edition),
2009
3. Technical Section, Canadian Pulp & Paper Association, Official Standard
Testing Method C.1, “The Determination of Freeness.
4. K.W. Britt, ed., ‘‘Handbook of Pulp and Paper Technology,’’ 2nd ed. Van
Nostrand-Reinhold, New York, 1970.
5. J.A. Wright, M.J. Sabourin, and W.S. Dvorak, Laboratory Results of TMP and
CTMP Trials,TAPPI J., 78(1), 91–96, Jan. (1995).