Properties of cellulose pulps and their influence on the production of a cellulose ether

Abstract Several grades of cellulose pulps were investigated for their influence on the product quality of a cellulose ether, ethyl-hydroxy-ethyl cellulose (EHEC). The selection of the pulps was based on pulping process, original wood type and intrinsic viscosity. In total, five sulfite pulps and four sulfate pulps were chosen, of which all but one sulfate pulp were of dissolving grade. The physical and chemical properties of the pulps were analyzed as well as important qualitative parameters of the final product EHEC. The influence of pulp properties on EHEC quality was investigated by multivariate data analyses. Principal component analysis showed that due to the influence of all variables, the pulps aligned in groups in accordance to the selection criteria pulping process and wood type. Partial least square regression revealed that high gel formation in EHEC is explained by the pulp properties high intrinsic viscosity and high Mw in combination with high caustic absorption rate and high total caustic absorption. The amount of hemicelluloses, in particular xylose, also contributed to gel formation. High cloud point for an EHEC solution was explained by a high MS_EO and low DS_Et of the EHEC molecules, where in turn a high MS_EO could be predicted by a high pore area, high PD and a low caustic absorption rate. A low DSEt could on the other hand be predicted by a low hemicellulose content and hence a high R18. In a separate model, the same pulp properties explaining MSEO and DS_Et also predicted cloud point directly. Fock reactivity and viscose dope filterability, both test methods originating from the viscose manufacturing, were shown to predict cloud point but have low predictability on other EHEC quality parameters. The models achieved can thus be utilized to predict final EHEC product qualities for new pulps within the design set of the chosen pulps.