Regulation of superoxide anion radical during the oxygen delignification process

In this study, the superoxide anion radicals were generated by the auto-oxidation of 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene and determined by UV spectrophotometry, and the reaction was found to be facilitated by anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt. The bamboo kraft pulps were treated by the 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene auto-oxidation method or the 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene auto-oxidation combined with anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt to show the effect of the superoxide anion radicals during the oxygen delignification of bamboo kraft pulp and the enhancing affect of anthraquinone compounds as an additive on delignification. The results indicated that the superoxide anion radicals could react with lignin and remove it from pulp with negligible damage on cellulose, and the anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt could facilitate the generation of superoxide anion radical to enhance delignification of pulps. The oxygen delignification selectivity could be improved using the 1,2,3-trihydroxybenzene auto-oxidation system combined with anthraquinone-2-sulfonic acid sodium salt.