The ethanol-based pulping of Eucalyptus globulus by the ALCELL(R) proc
ess was studied to determine the optimum cooking conditions. In the fi
rst set of experiments the influence of chip size, chip impregnation,
liquor-to-wood ratio and cooking additives was studied. Once the more
convenient values for these variables were established according to ka
ppa number, yield and viscosity, a surface response method was used to
determine the influence of cooking temperature, cooking time and etha
nol concentration on autocatalyzed pulping process. The developed mode
ls indicate that a high screened pulp yield (56%) and acceptable kappa
number (23) and viscosity (1030 mL/g) can be obtained when cooking co
nditions are around 185 degrees C, 110 min and 50% of ethanol.