Journal of Environmental Biology

Utilization of sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in kraft pulping process

Abdullah Istek* and Erdem Gonteki

 

Department of Forest Industrial Engineering, Faculty of? Forestry, Bartin University,? Bartin - 74100, Turkey

(Received: April 24, 2008; Revised received: October 25, 2008; Accepted: November 25, 2008)

 

Abstract: Aim of this study is to investigate the effect of adding sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) in kraft pulping. First of all, six kraft cooks were carried out for varying active alkali and sulfidity. Then, kraft methods for K1 and K6 cooks were modified by adding 1, 2 and 3 % NaBH₄. The results indicated that modifying kraft method (K1) by adding 3% NaBH₄ (KB13) resulted in 9.97% (relative percentage) yield increase and 10.1% (relative percentage) kappa reduction. Although the mechanical properties of NaBH₄ modified pulps were lower compared to the kraft pulps, NaBH₄ modified pulps were much brighter.?

Key words: Maritime pine, Sodium borohydride, Kraft pulping, Pulp yield, Paper properties

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