In situ microstructural evolution of spruce wood during soda pulping using synchrotron X-ray tomography
Journal article, 2022

A new laboratory reactor to perform in situ studies of structural changes in wood during soda pulping using synchrotron X-ray tomography is presented. The reactor is of recirculation type to provide stable reaction conditions and mimic the industrial situation. Experiments have been performed using this reactor in situ at a synchrotron microtomography beamline to provide sequences of 3D images from which measurement of wood cell wall thickness have been possible for the first time. The results showed that the cell wall thickness increased significantly in the early stage of pulping (<10 min), which is due to the transportation of cooking chemicals through the tracheids, resin channels and pits into the cell wall, which is swollen with the increased pH. Subsequently, the cell wall thickness reduces over the processing time up to 60 min with a high rate, which is inferred to be due to the dissolution and transport of lignin and hemicellulose from the secondary walls, allowing for better transportation of active chemicals deep through the cell wall layers. After 60 min processing, the cell wall thickness reduction rate reduced, as dissolution of lignin and hemicelluloses from the cell walls ceased, while the remaining dissolution occurs mainly at the middle lamella.

compression wood

synchrotron X-ray tomography

soda pulping

microstructure

Author

Ahmed Wagih Abdallah Abdel Hady

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Merima Hasani

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Stephen A. Hall

Lund Institute of Advanced Neutron and X-ray Science (LINXS)

Lund University

Vladimir Novak

Paul Scherrer Institut

Hans Theliander

Chalmers, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chemical Technology

Holzforschung

0018-3830 (ISSN) 1437-434X (eISSN)

Vol. 76 7 611-621

Subject Categories

Other Chemical Engineering

Biophysics

Medical Biotechnology (with a focus on Cell Biology (including Stem Cell Biology), Molecular Biology, Microbiology, Biochemistry or Biopharmacy)

DOI

10.1515/hf-2021-0204

More information

Latest update

3/7/2024 9