Arundo donax L. Valorization under Hydrothermal and Pulp Processing

This paper will consider the influence of hydrothermal pretreatment to obtain a valuable liquid phase and suitable raw material for pulping from Arundo donax L. and the influence of the operating conditions used in the organosolv pulping of the Arundo donax L. autohydrolysis process (viz., ethanol concentration, temperature, and pulping time) on the yield, kappa index, viscosity, and glucan content of the resulting pulp to determine the best pulping conditions. From autohydrolysis, a valuable liquid phase could be obtained. Maximum glucose and xylose contents have been obtained at 180 °C. Suitable characteristics of pulps and acceptable yield, viscosity, and kappa index values could be obtained by operating at high temperature (200 °C), pulping time (130 min), and ethanol concentration (60%). The yields and kappa index values found for pulps from solid residues of Arundo donax L. autohydrolysis were similar to those found for other Arundo donax L. pulps.