Stoichiometric model of chlorine dioxide delignification of hardwood kraft pulps with oxidant-reinforced extraction effect,

A generalized, steady-state model for hardwoods is proposed for predicting bleaching delignification and/or chlorine dioxide (ClO2) consumption for sequences that use oxidant-reinforced extraction. Published data for various hardwood species and mixtures were analyzed to develop the model. The kappa number data from these studies were normalized to their respective pre-D0 kappa number, and the normalized kappa numbers were plotted against the bleach demand. This mathematical transformation allowed for various brownstocks and oxygen-delignified pulps with different kappa numbers to be modeled as a single curve based on an empirical relationship with fitted equation parameters. One of the two equation parameters could be expressed as simple functions of oxidant-reinforced extraction conditions (i.e., peroxide dosage). The model forecasts ClO2 usage reasonably well (±0.20% ClO2 on pulp) for conventional ClO2 delignification with extraction. Attempts to incorporate modified bleaching delignification processes that eliminate hexenuronic acids into the model were unsuccessful; data were insufficient to develop a relationship. This straightforward stoichiometric model contains relatively few fitted parameters to be determined. The model could be used with other steady-state brightening-stage models to predict bleach usage.