Effect of microwave hydrothermal pretreatment on dissolution of composite components in Acacia wood and subsequent pulping performance

In the field of pulping, the challenge of effectively removing hemicellulose while preserving cellulose has emerged as a critical research issue. To facilitate the extensive development and utilization of Acacia wood as a potential biomass resource, the microwave hydrothermal method was implemented. The results demonstrated that subjecting the material to a 170 °C pretreatment for 60 min led to a notable enhancement in hemicellulose dissolution. The total concentration of xylose in the solution reached 15.69 g/L, a value that was considerably higher than that observed in the conventional hydrothermal treatment solution. The regression model constructed using the least squares method is an effective means of predicting the dissolution of composite components under a range of microwave hydrothermal treatment conditions. Furthermore, it was discovered that the pulping process could be optimized by subjecting Acacia wood to lower temperatures (120 ~ 140 °C). This resulted in an increase in pulp yield and improvement in paper quality, with an enhancement of 10 to 20%. In summary, the approach provides new insights into the degradation rule of the composite components in Acacia wood, contributing to the enhancement of subsequent paper-based composite material production and paving the way for an energy-efficient, sustainable, and environmentally friendly evolution of the pulp and paper industry.