Bleaching of wood pulp is the chemical processing carried out on various types of wood pulp to decrease the color of the pulp, so that it becomes whiter. The main use of wood pulp is to make paper where whiteness (similar to but not exactly the same as "brightness") is an important characteristic.[1] The processes and chemistry described in this article are also applicable to the bleaching of non-wood pulps, such as those made from bamboo or kenaf.
The chlorine dioxide is mixed with the pulp and contacted
in each D (chlorine dioxide) tower (see Figure 1)
for about 1 hour per stage. The primary purpose of
bleaching is to maximize removal of the lignin binding
agents in the pulp without degradation of carbohydrates,
which weakens the final product (paper). The
pH is maintained at relatively low levels (around 4) to
foster rapid chemical reaction. Higher pH levels require
more chlorine dioxide for equivalent bleaching action.
Following bleaching in each D tower, the reacted lignin
is removed by dissolving the lignin under high pH
conditions (typically over 11). Lower pH levels will not
dissolve all of the lignin. This caustic extraction (E)
stage is preceded by a washing step to reclaim the
chlorine dioxide and to minimize carryover of the acidic
chemicals. The amount of caustic needed is proportional
to the amount of bleach added in the D stage.
Bleach plant sequences vary widely from mill to mill;
however, the D-E-D-E stage sequence is quite common.
At least 2 bleaching stages are generally
required to produce the specified brightness, with
additional stages for more specialized uses.
Consistency (% solids) is typically maintained at a
high level (up to 10%) to minimize water use.
Temperature is controlled around 140°F (60°C), and
doses of 5% chlorine dioxide are common.