Effect of anthraquinone on pulping of pretreated sugarcane bagasse by steam explosion for application in cellulose derivatives

Abstract

The aim of this work is the production of dissolving pulps from sugarcane bagasse, for cellulose derivatives production. The pulps were produced by soda delignification process, with or without anthraquinone, of sugarcane bagasse pretreated by steam explosion. The soda-anthraquinone process showed to be more advantageous, with 32.17% less cellulose degradation than for soda pulping. The best pulp yield was reached at lower temperatures, where the process provides a reduction in the recalcitrance of lignocellulosic material with a solubilization of lignin fragments of low molecular weight without high cellulose degradation. A future goal is to use these cellulosic pulps as precursors in cellulosic derivatives.