Effects of pulping variables on the retention of carbohydrates and lignin in fast kraft pulping of eucalyptus were investigated using a complete factorial design. Influences of pulp chemical composition on physicochemical and mechanical properties were evaluated using Principal Component Analysis. Active alkali (AA) significantly affected the macromolecular degradation of cellulose and retention of xylan and lignin. Cellulose retention was unaffected. The use of low AA in pulping improved all mechanical properties, but increased the kappa number and reduced ISO brightness. The degree of polymerization of cellulose was related to tensile index and elastic modulus while xylan affected the apparent sheet density. Tear index had a positive influence of fiber length and uronic acid groups, which were preserved in xylan by a combination of low AA, thin wood chips and a short pulping cycle. The characteristics, rather than the content of xylan, were suggested to be relevant to tear index.
eucalyptus; alkaline degradation; carbohydrates; lignin; multivariate data analysis
