Thesis (MScFor)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Unextracted (control) and PHWe Eucalyptus grandis wood chips were pulped at 15% active alkali (AA) and 1% antraquinone (AQ). Another batch of wood chips were then inoculated with fungal co-cultures of Aspergillus flavipes and Pycnoporus sanguineus. FCCi wood chips were incubated for four weeks; one PHWe inoculated experimental treatment was incubated for three weeks. The full pulping cycle (160 min) was used to digest the experimental treatments with the exception of one lot of PHWe wood chips that were pulped for 150 minutes. A further experimental treatment of PHWe wood chips was cooked at a reduced AA charge of 14% and 1% AQ. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of the data from all the experimental treatments was conducted and the differences within the experimental treatments were determined using Statistica (v7, 1984–2006). The F-value (Fischer distribution) and the p-value as well as a non-parametric test known as the Mann-Whitney procedure was tested at the 95% confidence limit. For a further enhancement of the 95% confidence limit the screened yield data was tested by the Bootstrap method. Scanning electron micrographs clearly demonstrated the changed structure and appearance of the chip cross-sectional area after the different pretreatments. Although the mean average results of all the screened pulp yields showed no significant statistical difference (p> 0.05), differences in screened yield of up to 2.5% were obtained. All the weighted means of the rejects showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). Other pulp properties like shive content, chemical consumption, Kappa number, handsheet brightness and strength tests showed mixed results i.e. rejected or accepted the hypothesis (p> or =or < 0.05). The hypothesis that the combined PHWE and FCCI of wood chips would further increase the pulp yield had to be rejected. It is however anticipated that the combination of PHWE with successive co-culture fungal pretreatment would be very beneficial in obtaining higher pulp yields for fully bleached chemical pulp. Further research would be required to test this assumption. This investigation confirmed the expected beneficial effects of combined PHWE and FCCI pretreatments of wood chips on the strength properties. In addition the combined treatment also improved the initial bonding strength potential of the unbeaten fibres. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onbehandelde en met onder druk, warm water uitgeloogde Eucalyptus grandis houtspaanders is respektiefwelik met 15% aktiewe alkali (AA) en 1% antrakinoon (AQ) verpulp. Hierdie is dan met swamkokulture van Aspergillus flavipes en Pycnoporus sanguineus inokuleer en respektiewelik vir drie en vier weke inkubeer. Onder druk uitgeloogde houtspaanders is ook vir 150 minute verpulp by 15% AA 1% AQ en by ‘n verminderde AA van 14%. Pulpevaluasies is uitgevoer op alle eksperimentele behandelinge. Alle onder druk uitgeloogde en met swamkokultuur inokuleerde houtspaanders het ‘n laer pulpopbrengs, uitskot, skilferinhoud, Kappanommer en ‘n hoër RAA en helderheid opgelewer in vergelyking met die vars houtspaanders. Die vars en warm water uitgeloogde houtspaanders het soortgelyke pulpopbrengs opgelewer. ‘n Variansieanalise (ANOVA) van die data van alle eskperimentele behandelings is uitgevoer gebruikmakende van Statistica (V7, 1984 – 2006). Die F-waarde (Fischer-verspreiding) an die p-waarde so wel as ‘n parametriese toets (Mann-Whitney prosedure) is getoets by ‘n 95% betroubaarheidsgrens. Vir ‘n verdere verhoging van die 95% betroubaarheidsgrens van die pulpopbrengs, is die beskikbare data weer getoets met die Bootstrap-metode. Alle gemiddelde pulpopbrengswaardes het geen beduidende statistiese verkil opgelewer nie (p>0.05), alhoewel verskille van tot 2.5% in pulpopbrengs verkry is. Alle gemiddelde uitskotwaardes het ‘n beduidende verskil getoon (p<0.05). Die ander pulpeienskappe soos skilferinhoud, verbruik aan chemikalieë, Kappagetal, handvel helderheid en sterktewaardes het gemengde resultate opgelewer maw verwerping of aanvaarding van die hipotese p> or =or < 0.05. Die hipotese dat die gekombineerde PHWE en FCCI van die houtspaanders die pulpopbrengs verder sou verhoog moes verwerp word. Daar word egter verwag dat die kombinasie van PHWE met opeenvolgende swamkokultuur behandeling baie voordelig sou wees op die pulpopbrengs van ‘n ten volle gebleikte chemiese pulp. Verdere navorsing is nodig om hierdie veronderstelling te toets. Die ondersoek het die verwagte woordelige effek van die gekombineerde PHWE en FCCI voorbehandelings van die houtspaanders op die papierstrkte-eienskappe bevestig. Bo en behalve dit, het die gekombineerde behandeling ook die aavanklikte bindsterkte potensiaal van die ongeklopte vessels verbeter.

Thesis (MSc (Forest and Wood Science))—University of Stellenbosch, 2005. / In this study the mechanical pulping characteristics of Solanum mauritianum (Bugweed) were investigated using Thermomechanical (TMP), Chemithermomechanical (CTMP) and Biothermomechanical (BTMP) methods. Results were compared with those obtained from Pinus patula pulps treated under similar conditions. In the TMP pulping trials, the pretreatment of wood chips involved soaking of chips in water overnight prior to refining. The CTMP pulping trials involved first the impregnation of wood chips with 3% sodium sulfite and 2% sodium carbonate solution for 24 hours before refining. Coculture of hemicellulolytic Aspergillus flavipes and ligninolytic Pycnoporus sanguineus were inoculated to the wood chips in BTMP trials, to enhance wood chip breakdown. Solanum mauritianum (Bugweed) wood chips produced the highest pulp yields and less shive content compared to Pinus patula treated under similar pulping conditions. This could be ascribed to easier fibre separation and lesser fibre damage, as well as its lower extractive content. Results showed that the pretreatment of wood chips prior to TMP pulping increased paper strength properties compared to the pulp prepared from the untreated wood chips. Chemically pretreated wood chips consumed a larger amount of refining energy. With regard to brightness levels, handsheets from Pinus patula pulps recorded lower brightness values than those from Bugweed pulps. This was related to the lighter colour of the Bugweed wood chips and the higher extractive content of Pinus patula. The high brightness level of the CTMP pulps could be attributed to a modification of the lignin chromophores and the extractive removal, which contributed to a lower absorption coefficient of the pulp. Handsheets from BTMP pulps showed a reduction in brightness compared to the TMP and CTMP pulps. This was caused by the darkening of the wood chips during the fungal incubation period. Pulp and paper properties of Bugweed compared favourably to those results published for other hardwoods. The results of this study suggest possibilities for using Bugweed in high yield pulping processes.