Soda-anthraquinone pulp from three Acacia nilotica subspecies

The physical, chemical and fibre characteristics of three Sudanese Acacia nilotica subspecies (adansonii, nilotica and tomentosa) wood were assessed for their suitability for papermaking. Soda-anthraquinone (soda-AQ) pulping gave 2–3% higher yield and better quality pulp at 2–3% less alkali consumption compared with the reference soda pulping. Addition of guar gum as wet-end/dry-strength additive improved both bonding and tear properties of soda-AQ pulps. A. nilotica subspecies had the best pulping potentialities, while A. tomentosa subspecies pulp was the strongest. The pulps, except for A. adansonii, compared favourably with commercially pulped eucalypts, which are successfully used for printing-, writing- and wrapping-papers.