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Improving Aspen Kraft Pulp By A Novel, Low Technology Fungal Pretreatment, Y.R. Chen, E.L. Schmidt

Aspen Bibliography

This study investigated the biopulping agent Phanerochaete chrysosporium with a new process that required neither wood sterilization nor pure culture incubation conditions. Aspen (Populus tremuloides Michaux) chip bales with three treatments were studied. Each bale was kraft cooked after 8.5 weeks of pretreatment. The effects of fungal inoculation and foil-wrapping on pulp and paper strength properties were evaluated. Fungal pretreatment caused significantly faster response to beating as lower freeness was noted. Foil-wrapping retarded the loss of moisture within the bale, and as a result, prolonged fungal activities, resulting in substantial increases in burst strength. Tear was slightly increased, but there …