Effects of nitren extraction on a dissolving pulp and influence on cellulose dissolution in NaOH–water

A commercial dissolving pulp was treated with aqueous solutions containing 3, 5 and 7 % of an organometalic complex (nitren) with the aim to selectively extract xylan and study its impact on the conventional physical–chemical properties of the pulp. The influence of these treatments on the pulp dissolution in a moderate solvent (8 % NaOH aqueous solution) was assessed by measuring the dissolution yields and the dissolution mechanisms. The results of this study show that nitren treatment has the effect of removing a large part of the xylan present in a dissolving pulp. It is also removing mannans and most important, it is influencing cellulose in two ways, (1) extracting it with more intensity when the nitren concentration increases, and (2) decreasing its mean molecular mass, also more evident with nitren concentration increase. The nitren extractions are favourable for the dissolution in cold NaOH–water, being more effective with higher concentrations. This chemical modification of the fiber surface leads to the disassembly of the primary wall. This allows an easier access of the NaOH reagent to regions not accessible on the initial fibres, which with the decrease of the cellulose molecular weight allows an easier dissolution and gives different dissolution mechanisms.