Optimization technology of thermomechanical pulp made from pinus densiflora (II) - Quantification of pitch contents in TMP

Abstract

Pitches contained in thermomechanical pulp negatively influence paper qaulity and pulp and papermaking process. Without controlling TMP pitches suitably, it is hard to make a certain quality of paper. In order to control pitches in TMP, they must be quantitatively recognized by proper tools. One of the most widely used way to detecting TMP pitches is a staining method using a hydrophobic dye such as Sudan IV. Sudan IV could be used with three different protocols including different application of its dissolution, washing, dyeing time, etc. The dyeing protocols were classified into three categories including Stain I, Stain II, and Stain III. In dyeing time, Stain I required more than 24 hours to dye pitches. On the other hand, Stain III could stain TMP pitches with the most brief way. The images of red-stained pitches could be captured by a stereomicroscope with x 35 and x 45 magnifications, and then quantitatively analysed measuring their numbers and areas by Carl Zeiss AxioVision (ver. 4.8.2) program. Among three protocols, both Stain I and Stain III were the most ideal methods to detect TMP pitches because they detected more pitches and bigger pitch areas compared to Stain II against the same specimen. In particular, it was recognized that Stain III could be used as the most useful tool to detect TMP pitches accurately within several minutes.