ORGANOSOLV PULPING OF COTTON LINTERS

Compared to prehydrolysis soda pulping, prehydrolysis soda ethanol pulping of cotton linters stabilizes the long-chain cellulose macromolecules against alkaline degradation. The presence of ethanol also results in a more open and accessible fine structure, higher chemical reactivity (in xanthation), and better viscose filterability. Prehydrolysis soda ethanol anthraquinone pulping results in a still higher stabilization of cellulose in cotton, a more open and accessible tine structure, higher chemical reactivity and a better viscose filterability. In this respect, the hydrochloric acid (HCl) is superior to the sulphuric acid (H(2)SO(4)). The prehydrolysis soda ethanol anthraquinone pulping method gives cotton linters with better chemical reactivity than that of commercial softwood pulp.