Effects of Some Wood Chip Properties on Pulp Quality
A series of TMP experiments were performed at CIPP’s TMP pilot plant, and some pulp properties were measured. By comparing chip and pulp properties, and using projections to latent structures (PLS) analysis, we were able to demonstrate that on-line CMS measurements can be used to predict some pulp properties. It should be pointed out that the focus of this paper is to show how CMS measurements can be used to predict some pulp properties. This prediction will suggest ways to control chip quality so as to ensure pulp quality. We tried to explain some important chip properties included in the measurements, but did not try to model them.
Characterization of the Detailed Relationships of the Key Variables in the Process of the Alkaline Sulfite Pretreatment of Corn Stover by Multivariate Analysis
In biomass pretreatment processes, both the properties of feedstock and process parameters play important roles in the yield of downstream enzymatic hydrolysis. More importantly, like many other industrial processes, the pretreatment system is multivariate and the variables in the system are inter-related to different extents, which means that studying the relationships of the key variables is of critical importance for the improvement of downstream enzymatic saccharification yield. In this work, two multivariate analysis methods of the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Partial Least Square (PLS) were employed to characterize the detailed relationships of the key process variables of alkaline sulfite pretreatment of corn stover. The results showed that the total alkali charge is positively correlated with the sugar content in pretreated biomass, lignin removal efficiency, and final sugar yield; pretreatment temperature has negative impact on the recovery of polysaccharides; and total alkali charge is more influential than other pretreatment process variables (such as Na2SO3/NaOH and temperature) under the conditions studied.
Fluorescing macerals from wood precursors
Abstract A preliminary investigation into the origin of wood-derived macerals has established the existence of autofluorescent maceral precursors in the secondary xylem of swamp-inhabiting plant species. The optical character and fluorescent properties of microtomed thin-sections of modern woods from the Florida Everglades and Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia are compared to the character and properties of their peatified equivalents from various Everglades and Okefenokee peat horizons and their lignitic equivalents from the Brandon lignite of Vermont and the Trail Ridge lignitic peat from northern Florida. The inherent fluorescence of woody cell walls is believed to be caused by lignin though other cell wall components may contribute. The fluorescence spectra for several wood and cell types had a λ max of 452 nm and Q value of 0.00. The color as observed in blue light and the spectral geometry as measured in UV light of peatified and lignitic woody cell walls (potential textinites) may change progressively during early coalification. Cell wall-derived maceral material is shown to maintain its fluorescing properties after being converted to a structureless material, perhaps a corpohuminite or humodetrinite precursor. Fluorescing xylem cell contents, such as condensed tannins or essential oils, can maintain the fluorescent character through early coalification. Xylem cell walls and xylem cell contents are shown to provide fluorescing progenitor materials which would not require subsequent infusion with “lipid” materials to account for their fluorescence as phytoclast material or as macerals in coal.