Use of Polycarboxylic Acid to Inhibit Heat-and Moisture-Induced Yellowing of ECF/TCF Bleached Hardwood Kraft Pulp

The aim of this work was to inhibit the heat-and moisture-induced yellowing of ECF/TCF bleached hard wood kraft pulp (HBKP) retaining hexenuronic acid (HexA). We have already reported that one of the derivatives of HexA, 5-formyl-2-furancarboxylic acid (FFA), causes yellowing of HBKP in acidic paper, and that FFA might polymerize or react with pulp components to form new chromophoric groups (1). In this study, it was shown that the carboxylic base of FFA interacts with that of glucuronic acid or galacturonic acid, resulting in strong yellowing. Therefore, it seems that preventing the reaction of carboxylic bases could be effective in suppressing this yellowing. We have discovered that polycarboxylic acids (for example, citric acid, tartaric acid, etc.) are useful as a yellowing inhibitor.