| Abstract: | Pulping of bagasse by a rapid and mild nitric acid process was successfully carried out to produce different grades of pulp. Nitric chemimechanical bagasse pulp was produced in a high yield of 91 % on pulping depithed bagasse with 4% HNO3 for a period of 30 min at 80°C, followed by alkali pulping with 2% NaOH at 95°C for 30 min. The pulp had a satisfactory strength and high opacity. On increasing the strengths of nitric acid to 7% and alkali to 7% a nitric semichemical pulp of 65% yield was obtained. The pulp had a superior strength and high opacity. The pulp was easily bleached to 71% general electric brightness (GE) with the chlorination-alkali-extraction-hypochlorite (CEH) sequence. With 15% HNO3 and 8% NaOH, nitric chemical bagasse pulp was produced. The pulp was easily bleached to a high brightness of 82% GE with one stage hypochlorite. The pulp had a higher strength than kraft bagasse pulp. A satisfactory newsprint paper was produced on an experimental paper machine with a furnish composed of 80% bleached nitric semichemical bagasse pulp, 10% bleached softwood pulp and 10% clay. |
