Chemical degradations of kraft pulp carbohydrates molar mass distributions and their consequences on fibres strength

Industrial oxygen-delignified and fully-bleached hardwood kraft pulps were treated with chemicals to provoke carbohydrates depolymerisation: ozone, hypochlorous acid, and cellulase. The degrees of polymerisation (DP) of cellulose obtained by pulp viscosity measurement in Cuen and by size-exclusion chromatography after direct dissolution in DMAc/LiCl indicated the extent of the chemical degradation inflicted to the fibres. Molar mass distributions (MMD) described the carbohydrates depolymerisation patterns. Fibre strength was assessed by measuring the zero-span tensile index at never-dried state. Fibre strength deterioration seemed to be mainly driven by the topochemistry of the cellulose degradation (homogeneous or localised), rather than by its intensity usually measured as an average DP loss. In fact, depolymerisation by cellulase was found critically detrimental to fibres strength whereas ozone and hypochlorous acid induced little harm to the fibres despite a significant cellulose depolymerisation. According to these results, in line with several past studies, fibre strength measurements should be performed systematically as the sole pulp viscosity is an inadequate indicator. Alternatively, albeit being insufficient strength predictors on their own MMD can give valuable insight on the topochemistry of the cellulose degradation, a key aspect when monitoring fibre strength preservation during pulping and bleaching.