Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Investigation of the Effect of Wood Species on Strength Properties and Effluent Color Quality Resulting from Washing and ‎Bleaching of Chemi-Mechanical Pulp

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mojtaba Goli 1
gasm asdpor 2
Hasn Sharfi 3
Javd chaichi 4
Shaban ghodbanan 5
1 Ph.D Student. of Pulp and Paper Agriculture and Natural Resource University- Sari- Iran
2 Associated Professor of Wood and Paper Department, Agriculture and Natural Resource ‎University- Sari- Iran
3 Associated Professor of Chemical Engineering Department, Agriculture and Natural Resource ‎University- Sari- Iran
4 ‎- Assistant Professor of Faculty of chemistry Department, University of Mazandaran - Babolsar- Iran‎
5 Associated Professor of Chemical Engineering- Sahand University of Technology- Tabriz- Iran
10.22034/ijwp.2026.2084808.1766
Abstract
:Background and Objectives:
The shortage of cellulosic resources in Iran, implementation of forest protection regulations such as the Forest Conservation Plan and ‎the Forest Breathing Plan, environmental restrictions on raw wood imports, and the prevention of foreign currency outflow for ‎importing long-fiber pulps have created serious challenges in supplying raw cellulosic materials for consuming mills. A major portion of ‎pollution in papermaking effluents originates from natural compounds and extractives released from wood, which constitute the primary ‎raw materials in paper production. Therefore, understanding wood structure and its chemical constituents is essential. During pulping ‎and bleaching processes, these compounds are separated from wood and discharged into the effluent, resulting in increased effluent ‎color.‎
Considering the above challenges, Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries designed a formulation consisting of 75% hornbeam and ‎‎25% poplar and beech for CMP pulp production; however, the mill is currently facing raw material limitations for printing and writing ‎paper production. In this study, forest hardwood species including oak, maple, alder, persimmon, and non-forest (orchard) hardwood ‎species including willow and Populus deltoides were investigated individually and in combination with poplar as substitutes for the ‎previously designed formulation. The effects on printing and writing paper properties, along with effluent color measurements during ‎chip washing and pulp bleaching stages, were evaluated.‎
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Materials and Methods:‎
In this research, forest hardwood species including oak, maple, alder, persimmon, hornbeam, and beech, as well as non-forest (orchard) ‎hardwood species including willow and Populus deltoides, were randomly sampled from the mill yard. Fiber measurement and ‎biometrical analysis were performed using the Franklin method (1954), and the fiber length, wall thickness, fiber diameter, and lumen ‎diameter of 300 fibers from each species were measured.‎
For chemical composition analysis, wood chips of six species were separately ground into powder using a hammer mill. The powders ‎were classified by sieving into 60-mesh and 80-mesh fractions. According to TAPPI standards, 60-mesh powder was used for ‎extractives and ash determination, while 80-mesh powder was used for lignin and cellulose measurements.‎
Subsequently, the woods were converted into chips using the industrial chipper of Mazandaran Wood and Paper Industries and ‎screened to standard dimensions using laboratory sieves. Constant chemi-mechanical pulping conditions included a temperature of 171 ‎‎°C, a liquor-to-wood ratio of 7:1, and the application of 20% chemicals (based on oven-dry chip weight). To achieve a yield of ‎approximately 85% (similar to the industrial yield), cooking times of 25–50 minutes and poplar mixing ratios of 32%, 49%, and 64% ‎were applied. After refining the pulp to a freeness of 325 ± 25 mL CSF (Canadian Standard Freeness), laboratory handsheets were ‎prepared.‎
Bleaching was performed using 2% hydrogen peroxide (based on oven-dry pulp) in the presence of 0.2% DTPA to remove transition ‎metal ions, under acidic pH conditions. Paper properties were evaluated according to TAPPI standards.‎
Effluent sampling and preparation were conducted as follows:‎
‎1.‎ Effluent from chip washing: chip samples along with yield determination samples were stirred in 2 L of water at 55 °C for 10 ‎minutes.‎
‎2.‎ Effluent liquid after bleaching.
Finally, effluent color parameters were measured‎
Keywords
Poplar
Willow
Hardwood
Chemi-Mechanical Pulp. Effluent Color
Subjects
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Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries
Volume 17, Issue 2
Summer 2026
Pages 337-353