How to Make Bamboo Pulp

Ganyuan

2024 年 9 月 22 日

Bamboo pulp products are a new type of environmentally friendly product. Bamboo has good toughness and a short growth cycle. This section describes the step-by-step process of making bamboo pulp. It covers the preparation of raw materials, as well as the various stages of slicing, cooking, bleaching and pulping, and finally adjusting the consistency to make pulp.

1.Preparation of raw materials

At this stage, the raw bamboo is collected and cleaned to ensure that impurities do not affect the quality of the final pulp.Raw material preparation is the key to ensuring the quality of bamboo pulp.

2.Preparing bamboo slices

This step involves cutting the raw bamboo into thin slices to make it easier to handle and process at later stages of pulp production. The bamboo must be cut evenly to ensure consistent quality during cooking and pulping. This process prepares the bamboo for softening, bleaching and eventual conversion to pulp.

3.Steaming

Bamboo chips are cooked with chemicals (such as sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide) in a digester at high pressure and temperature. This breaks down the lignin (the glue-like substance that binds bamboo fibers) and separates it from the cellulose fibers, producing unbleached bamboo pulp.

4.Bleaching

Depending on the end use of the pulp (e.g., for white paper or hygiene products), the pulp may be bleached. This is done using chemicals like chlorine dioxide, oxygen, or hydrogen peroxide, which brightens the pulp by removing residual lignin.

Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) Bleaching: Uses chlorine dioxide.

Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) Bleaching: Uses oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, considered more environmentally friendly.

5.Pulp Dewatering and Drying

After washing, the bamboo pulp is dewatered to remove excess moisture. This step typically involves large mechanical presses or vacuum systems that extract water from the pulp. The drying process is essential to ensure that the moisture content is reduced to optimal levels for further processing or storage. The pulp is often formed into sheets or rolls during this stage, depending on the intended use. The drying step is crucial for adjusting the pulp’s texture and consistency, which will influence the final quality of the product.

6.Adjustment of Concentration

The dried pulp’s consistency is then adjusted before it undergoes further processing into paper or other products. This involves adjusting the concentration of fibers to meet specific product requirements. Proper consistency is essential for controlling the thickness, texture, and strength of the final product, ensuring that the pulp meets standards for manufacturing paper, packaging materials, or other bamboo-based products.

This process, especially when combined with responsible waste management practices, makes bamboo a sustainable and eco-friendly choice in the paper and packaging industries.