Alkali-methanol cooking of mixed hardwood chip has been studied and the results were compared with kraft cooking. A recovery process of methanol which was similar to that of conventional kraft cooking was designed, and the economic evaluation was made. The results are summarized as follows.
1) Within the present study, the most adequate condition of cooking was found to be at wood-to-liquor ratio of 1/4, methanol concentration of 40% w/v and active alkali of 16% as Na
2O.
2) Screened pulp yield by alkali-methanol cooking was about 2% higher than that by kraft cooking in the range of kappa number of 2025.
3) The delignification rate of alkali-methanol cooking was slightly slower than that of kraft cooking, but faster than that of soda cooking.
4) The strength properties of alkali-methanol pulps were nearly same as kraft pulp, except that the tear factor and elongation were slightly less than that of kraft pulp. The beating of the former was easier than that of the latter. The bleaching property of alkali-methanol pulp was not studied.
5) The pulp price of alkali-methanol cooking is 2.5, 6.4 yen/kg a. d. pulp higher than that of kraft cooking. The increase of pulp price is mainly due to the steam cost for methanol recovery. In addition to the high cost of methanol recovery, a closed equipment, prevention of explosion and safety counterplot for operator must be sufficiently achieved to carry out alkali-methanol cooking and recovery.
Therefore, the alkali-methanol cooking would not be economically feasible compared with kraft cooking at the present time or even in near future.
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