The effects of various pulping conditions on crystalline structure of cellulose in cotton linters

Abstract

In this study, we investigated that how the crystalline structure of cellulose in cotton linters changed during soda, sulfate and organosolve pulping processes by using X-ray diffraction and FT-IR spectroscopy. It was defined that crystalline structure of cellulose in cotton linters was more effected in organosolve pulping than in soda and sulfate pulping. It was found that the degree of crystallinity and crystallite size were higher in organosolve pulping than in soda and sulfate pulping. While cellulose Iα (triclinic) was determined in all organosolve pulp samples, this unit cell structure was defined in only sulfate pulp samples obtained at 130 °C among other pulp samples. It was concluded that not only chemical agents, but also temperature and pressure in cooking digester had major effects on crystalline structure of cellulose in cotton linters during cooking.