Chemical and Mechanical Techniques for Improving the Papermaking Properties of Jack Pine TMP Fibers

Jack pine is undesirable for mechanical pulping compared with spruce and balsam fir. In this work, the authors use chemical and chemimechanical techniques to improve the papermaking properties of jack pine TMP long fibers. Chemical techniques included TEMPO-mediated oxidation (TOX) and alkaline peroxide (AP) treatment. Some pulps were beaten in a domestic blender. Results indicated that TOX alone or in combination with AP yielded excellent results. When used alone, AP treatment resulted in little improvement in handsheet properties. However, it gave excellent results when followed by beating.