Abstract

The influence of alkaline peroxide treatment has been characterized on elementally chlorine-free (ECF) bleached softwood (SW) kraft pulp. The results indicate that fiber charge increased with an increase in peroxide charge: a maximum fiber charge increment of 16.6% was obtained with 8.0% more peroxide charge on oven-dried (o.d.) pulp at 60.0°C. Two primary bleaching temperatures of 60.0°C and 90.0°C were investigated during peroxide treatment. Copper number decreased for peroxide charges of 0.5% and 1.0% at 60.0°C and 90.0°C, respectively, then increased with increasing peroxide charge. Both fiber charge and copper number approached constant values when 4.0% or higher peroxide charge was applied. Peroxide treatment on a bleached kraft pulp at 90.0°C resulted in lower fiber charge and lower intrinsic viscosity compared to treatment at 60.0°C. Sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) pretreatment was able to protect the fibers from being degraded during peroxide bleaching. Fiber charge and copper number were compared after peroxide treatment of ECF bleached kraft pulp to NaBH₄-reduced ECF bleached kraft pulp. The results indicate that the carbonyl group content of fibers is favorable for improving fiber charge after peroxide treatment.