Near-infrared spectroscopy and chemometric analysis for determining oxygen delignification yield

Oxygen delignification studies were carried out using a softwood kraft pulp under varying reaction temperatures (80-140 degrees C) and alkaline charges (1-12%). Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometric methods was employed to analyze oxygen delignification pulp yields, which were compared to gravimetric analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the NIR spectra data was performed and a partial least-square (PLS) regression model was developed to predict the pulp yield of oxygen delignified pulps based on the NIR spectra data. PCA analysis indicated that 99.1% of total variances of NIR spectra data in the range of 1100-2266 nm could be expressed by three principle components. A PLS1 model based on the NIR spectra data had good predictive ability and appeared to be an effective tool for pulp yield prediction for the oxygen delignification process.