This experimental research examines the relationship between the formation
of organic sulfur compounds and delignification during kraft wood pulping.
A phase transition point (PTP) was discovered below and above which the for
mation of total organic sulfur compounds, with respect to delignification,
changes significantly. The PTP occurs at approximately pulp kappa number 35
for softwoods and 20 for hardwoods. The PTP is directly related to the pha
se transition in kraft delignification from bulk to residual delignificatio
n. Significant in-digester odor reduction can be achieved using phase trans
ition cooking (PTC), i.e. limiting delignification to the bulk delignificat
ion phase or the PTP. It was also discovered that anthraquinone (AQ) as a c
atalytic additive can reduce organic sulfur compound formation during kraft
pulping. The reduction of sulfur compound formation is linearly proportion
al to the square root of the level of AQ addition (in percent). A 40% in-di
gester reduction in total reduced sulfur (TRS) formation can be achieved by
using PTC and AQ in kraft pulping. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All righ
ts reserved.