The chemical structure and composition of lignin and hemicellulose, as well as the distribution between inner and outer layers of fiber, can adversely affect bleaching operations or fiber-fiber bond on pulp and, consequently the papermaking process. Herein, we have implemented the fractionation and mechanical peeling techniques in order to identify the fines composition from eucalyptus cellulose as well as to verify the effect over xylan and lignin contents and the impact on oxygen delignification. Lignin and xylans in the material removed from the fiber surface (fines) were measured around to 7.6% and 12% of the composition, respectively. The lignin value is three times higher than the percentage measured to original fiber composition (without treatment). The residual xylans content on the pulp, after treatment of fines removal and peeling, was slightly reduced, around 3% for both treatments as well as fractionation and peeling methods decrease the oxygen delignification efficiency.

ZnO and Ag-ZnO were synthesized in a simple and efficient manner by thermal decomposition of zinc oxalate and silver/zinc mixed oxalate. The influence of the addition of metallic silver on ZnO particles and the effect of temperature in the thermal treatment were investigated. The samples were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis, Raman, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, specific surface area (Brunauer-Emmett-Teller) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of these materials in the decolorization of direct red 23 diazo dye was studied. The complete conversion into oxides from oxalates at lower temperatures was determinant in the photocatalytic efficiency of both the oxides. The presence of silver in zinc oxide, treated at 400 °C, more than doubled the rate constant of diazo dye decolorization (6.87×10-3 min-1) with respect to ZnO, treated at 600 °C, resulting in 3.07×10-3 min-1 under UV irradiation at 30 °C.

RESUMOO objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência da condição de polpação nas propriedades físico-mecânicas do papel branqueado de eucalipto. Para este estudo, foram utilizados cavacos de um híbrido clonal de eucalipto (Eucalyptus grandis x Eucalyptus urophylla) de 7 anos de idade. As polpas foram produzidas por duas condições distintas de polpação Lo-SolidsTM, sendo elas: Condição PI – álcali efetivo de 16,5%, sulfidez de 30% e temperatura de cozimento de 155 ºC; e Condição PII – álcali efetivo de 17,5%, sulfidez de 32% e temperatura de cozimento de 147 ºC. Ambos os cozimentos foram realizados buscando-se número kappa de 18,0 ± 0,5. Os branqueamentos foram realizados pela sequência de branqueamento OA(Ze)DP, buscando-se a alvura de 90,0 ± 1,0% ISO. Os refinos foram realizados a 0, 750, 1.500 e 3.000 níveis de revoluções e as correlações, feitas utilizando o índice de tração como variável independente da curva de refino. As propriedades físico-mecânicas do papel foram influenciadas pela condição de polpação, com aumento da drenabilidade, densidade aparente, índice TEA, alongamento e índice de rasgo para a polpa PI, considerando-se um mesmo índice de tração. A polpa PII, entretanto, atingiu o mesmo índice de tração da polpa PI com menor nível de refino e, consequentemente, menor gasto de energia. A condição de polpação PII foi mais adequada para a produção de papel por preservar mais a integridade das fibras, alcançando um mesmo índice de tração com um menor nível de refino.

ABSTRACTThe aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the pulping condition on the physicalmechanical properties of the eucalyptus bleached paper. Wood chips from a seven-year-old clonal hybrid of eucalyptus were used (Eucalyptus grandisxEucalyptus urophylla). The pulps were obtained from two distinct Lo-SolidsTM pulping conditions, namely: Condition PI - 16.5 % effective alkali, 30 % sulfidity, and 155 ºC cooking temperature; and Condition PII - 17.5 % effective alkali, 32 % sulfidity, and 147 ºC cooking temperature. Both conditions were performed to kappa number 18.0 ± 0.5. The bleaching were performed following the bleaching sequences OA(Ze)DP to achieve 90 ± 1% ISO brightness. The refinings were made at 0, 750, 1,500 and 3,000 revolution levels and the correlations were made based on the tensile index as independent variable of the refining curves. The physical-mechanical properties of the paper was influenced by the pulping conditions, with increasing of drainability, apparent density, TEA index, stretching and tear index to the PI pulp, considering the same tensile index. The PII pulp, however, achieved the same tensile index of PI pulp with lower refining level, thus, with lower energy waste. The pulping condition PII was most suitable for paper production for preserving more the integrity of the fibers, achieving the same tensile index with a lower refining level.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar de que modo a branqueabilidade da polpa se correlaciona com as características químicas da madeira, as condições de polpação, o grau de deslignificação da polpa marrom (número kappa) e as sequências de branqueamento, baseando-se na alvura da polpa branqueada, viscosidade, consumo de químicos de branqueamento e branqueabilidade da polpa. As madeiras de eucalipto (A, B e C), devidamente caracterizadas quanto aos constituintes químicos (holocelulose, teor de ligninas insolúvel e solúvel, teor de extrativos totais, cinzas e cinzas insolúveis em ácido clorídrico) foram utilizadas para a produção de polpa celulósica através de duas condições de polpação kraft modificada: Condição I (PI) - álcali efetivo de 16,5%, sulfidez de 30% e temperatura de cozimento de 155ºC; e Condição II (PII) - álcali efetivo de 17,5%, sulfidez de 32% e temperatura de cozimento de 147ºC. Ambos os cozimentos foram realizados buscando-se número kappa de 15,5 ± 0,5 e de 18,0 ± 0,5. Os parâmetros de polpação e as propriedades das polpas marrons avaliados foram: rendimento depurado, viscosidade, alvura, teor de ácidos hexenurônicos e o índice k/kappa corrigido (razão entre o índice de absorção de luz, um dos termos da fórmula da alvura, e o valor do número kappa corrigido, descontando a contribuição dos ácidos hexenurônicos). Cada uma das polpas foi branqueada, até 90% ISO de alvura, seguindo três sequências de branqueamento pré-definidas: Sequência 1 - OA(ZE)DP; Sequência 2 - OA/D(EOP)DP; e Sequência 3 - OD(EOP)DP. As polpas branqueadas foram avaliadas quanto à alvura, viscosidade, consumo de químicos de branqueamento e branqueabilidade. A branqueabilidade das polpas foi afetada pela madeira. Além disso, as branqueabilidades sofreram influência da condição de polpação e do número kappa da polpa marrom. As Sequências de branqueamento 1 e 2 mostraram-se satisfatórias para a produção de polpa na alvura de interesse (90 ± 1% ISO), diferentemente do verificado para as polpas produzidas pela Sequência 3. As melhores branqueabilidades foram obtidas para as polpas com número kappa da polpa marrom de 18,0 ± 0,5. Verificou-se estreita correlação entre branqueabilidade e índice k/kappa corrigido o que indicou a possibilidade de se utilizar esta propriedade da polpa marrom para a predição de branqueabilidades de polpas.

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the pulp bleachability ability is correlated with the wood chemical characteristics, the cooking conditions, the kappa number of the brown pulp and the bleaching sequences, based on the pulp bleached brightness, viscosity, bleaching chemical consumption and bleachability. The eucalyptus wood (A, B, and C), appropriately characterized as the chemical constituents (holocellulose content, insoluble and soluble lignin content, total extractive content, ash and insoluble ash in hydrochloric acid) were used for pulp production by modified kraft cooking, using two different pulping conditions: Condition I (PI) - 16.5% effective alkali, 30% sulfide, and 155ºC cooking temperature; and Condition II (PII) - 17.5% effective alkali, 32% sulfide, and 147ºC cooking temperature. Both conditions were performed to kappa number 15.5 ± 0.5 and 18.0 ± 0.5. The pulping parameters and pulp properties evaluated were: screened yield, viscosity, brightness, hexenuronic acid content, and index k/corrected kappa (ratio between the light absorption rate, a brightness formula term, and the corrected kappa number, disregarding the hexenuronic acid contribution). Each one of the pulps was bleached, to achieve 90 ± 1% ISO brightness, following three pre-defined bleaching sequences: 1 Sequence - OA(ZE)DP; 2 Sequence - OA/D(EOP)DP; and 3 Sequence - OD(EOP)DP. The pulps were investigated for brightness, viscosity, bleaching chemical consumption and bleachability. The bleachability was affected by the wood. Furthermore, the bleaching abilities were affected by the cooking condition and the brown pulp kappa number. The 1 and 2 sequences were satisfactory to achieve the required brightness (90 ± 1% ISO) unlike to the verified to the 3 sequence. The best bleachabilities were obtained from the brown pulps with higher kappa number 18.0 ± 0.5. It was verified close correlation between bleaching ability and index k/corrected kappa, which indicated the possibility of using this property of unbleached pulp for predicting pulp bleachability.

O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da qualidade de madeiras de eucalipto no desempenho da polpação kraft sob duas diferentes condições de polpação e em dois níveis de deslignificação, baseando-se no rendimento, alvura, viscosidade e índice k/kappa corrigido das polpas produzidas. As madeiras de eucalipto (A, B e C), foram analisadas quanto às suas propriedades físico-químicas (densidades básica e aparente, teor de ligninas insolúvel e solúvel, teor de extrativos, cinzas e cinzas insolúveis em ácido clorídrico) e utilizadas para a produção de polpa celulósica por meio do cozimento kraft modificado, utilizando duas condições de polpação, sendo elas: Condição I (PI) - álcali efetivo de 16,5%, sulfidez de 30% e temperatura de cozimento de 155ºC; e Condição II (PII) - álcali efetivo de 17,5%, sulfidez de 32% e temperatura de cozimento de 147ºC. Ambos os cozimentos foram realizados buscando-se no número kappa de 15,5 ± 0,5 e de 18,0 ± 0,5. Foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros de polpação e propriedades das polpas produzidas: fator H, rendimento depurado, viscosidade, alvura, conteúdo de ácidos hexenurônicos e o índice k/kappa corrigido. A madeira A, que apresentou menores teores de extrativos e lignina em sua constituição, bem como menores densidades básica e aparente quando comparada com as madeiras B e C, apresentou os melhores resultados para os parâmetros de cozimento avaliados, com destaque para a polpa produzida pela condição de cozimento PII com o número kappa de (18,0 ± 0,5), que apresentou maior rendimento, alvura e viscosidade dentre todas as polpas produzidas. Polpas produzidas com maior número kappa apresentam menores índices k/kappa corrigidos.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the wood quality in the kraft pulping performance under two different pulping conditions at two delignification degrees based on results for the yield, brightness, viscosity, and k/kappa corrected index. Eucalyptus wood (A, B, and C) was analyzed about their physicochemical properties (basic and apparent density, insoluble and soluble lignin content, extractive content, ash and insoluble ash in hydrochloric acid) and used for pulp production by modified kraft cooking, using two different pulping conditions: Condition I (PI) - 16.5% effective alkali, 30% sulfidity, and 155º of cooking temperature; and Condition II (PII) - 17.5% effective alkali, 32% sulfidity,and 147ºC cooking temperature. Both conditions were performed to kappa number 15.5 ± 0.5 and 18.0 ± 0.5. The following pulping parameters and pulp properties produced were evaluated: H factor, screened yield, viscosity, brightness, hexenuronic acid content, and the k/kappa corrected index. The A wood, which had lower extractives and lignin content in its constitution, as well as lower basic and apparent density when compared with B and C woods, showed good results for cooking parameters, especially the pulp produced at PII condition at kappa number 18.0 ± 0.5.Also, the A wood showed higher screened yield, brightness, and viscosity comparing to the other pulps produced. Those pulps produced with higher kappa number have lower k/kappa corrected index.

In this manuscript, a BiVO4 semiconductor was synthesized by solution combustion synthesis using different fuels (Alanine, Glycine and Urea). Also, the Tween® 80 surfactant was added during synthesis. BiVO4 was characterized by XRD, SEM and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Photocatalytic activity was evaluated by the discoloration of methylene blue at 664 nm under UV-visible light irradiation. According to XRD, the monoclinic phase of BiVO4 was obtained for the samples. The smallest particle size and highest k obs value were observed for the BiVO4/alanine sample, which promoted greater demethylation of methylene blue.

The present manuscript shows the synthesis of nickel hydroxide supported in carbon (Ni(OH)2/C) as a alternative material for catalytic alcohol oxidation in alkaline medium. The Ni(OH)2/C was synthesized in different percentage using a sonic bath. No current densities variation during successive cyclic voltammetry experiments was observed. The Ni(OH)2/C electrodes exhibit a potent and persistent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of different alcohols. In addition, alcohols electooxidation occurs in less positive potential compared with noble metal catalyst.

Optimum conditions to run the P Mo stage for bleaching eucalyptus kraft pulp were 90 ºC, pH 3.5, 2 h, 0.1 kg/t Mo and 5 kg/t H2O2. The P Mo stage efficiency increased with decreasing pH (1.5-5.5) and increasing temperature (75-90 ºC), time (2-4 h), and hydrogen peroxide (3-10 kg/t) and molybdenum concentration (0.1-0.4 kg/t). The implementation of the P Mo stage, as replacement for the A stage, decreased total active chlorine demand of the OAZDP sequence by 6 kg/t to reach 90% ISO, both in laboratory and mill scale. Such practice resulted in decreased bleaching chemical costs to produce fully bleached pulp of 90% ISO.