Compositions and methods for bamboo pulping

Abstract

Disclosed herein are compositions, methods and systems for bamboo pulping. Bamboo biomass materials that are exclusively or largely uniform are used for bamboo pulping. In some embodiments, the bamboo biomass materials are derived from a pure stand or monoculture of bamboo. In some embodiments, the bamboo pure stand or monoculture is generated by micropropagation comprising meta-topolin or an analogue thereof and/or thidiazuron or an analogue thereof.

1 . Bamboo pulp produced using the following Kraft cooking conditions: an effective alkali ranges from about 16.0% to about 18.0%; sulfidity from about 25% to about 30%; an H-Factor from about 1000 to about 1200; a maximum cooking temperature (i.e., T max ) of about 165° C.; and a liquor to biomass ratio of about 4.0:1 to 5.0:1. 
     
     
         2 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 1 , wherein the bamboo pulp has a Kappa number ranging from about 20 to about 25, and a screened yield ranging from about 42% to about 44%. 
     
     
         3 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 1 , wherein the bamboo pulp has a brightness ranging from about 85 to about 88 and a CED viscosity greater than about 20 cP. 
     
     
         4 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 1 , wherein the bamboo pulp has a fiber morphology comprising a coarseness ranging from about 11.0 mg/100 m to about 12.0 mg/100 m; a LWA fiber length ranging from about 1.1 mm to about 1.3 mm; and, a LWA fines ranging from about 20.0% to about 30.0%. 
     
     
         5 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 1 , wherein the bamboo pulp was obtained from a pure stand of bamboo. 
     
     
         6 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 5 , wherein the pure stand of bamboo comprises at least 95% Moso bamboo. 
     
     
         7 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 5 , wherein the pure stand of bamboo comprises at least 98% Moso bamboo. 
     
     
         8 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 5 , wherein the pure stand is produced using micropropagation. 
     
     
         9 . The bamboo pulp of  claim 8 , wherein the micropropagation comprises using media comprising meta-topolin or an analogue thereof and/or thidiazuron or an analogue thereof. 
     
     
         10 . A composition comprising the bamboo pulp of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A product produced using the bamboo pulp of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         12 . The product of  claim 11 , wherein the product is paper or tissue. 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing bamboo pulp comprising subjecting bamboo plant material to the following Kraft cooking conditions: an effective alkali ranges from about 16.0% to about 18.0%; sulfidity from about 25% to about 30%; an H-Factor from about 1000 to about 1200; a maximum cooking temperature (i.e., T max ) of about 165° C.; and a liquor to biomass ratio of about 4.0:1 to 5.0:1.