Pretreatment
of biomass is expected to improve the pulp properties
and facilitate the main components in the raw materials to be better
used. In this work, the refining energy consumption and properties
of the poplar chemithermomechanical pulp (CTMP) from different autohydrolysis
pretreatment intensities of wood chips were investigated, and the
pulp bleaching ability was also studied. The results showed that the
CTMP with autohydrolysis pretreatment at a severity factor of 3.47
could have a 26% energy reduction in pressurized refining, a 60% energy
saving in PFI refining, and 44% and 46% increases in tensile and tear
indices, respectively. Autohydrolysis pretreatment prior to pulping
could result in CTMP with a higher water retention value, higher fines
content, better strength properties, lower shives content, and lower
bulk and ISO brightness after PFI refining. The brightness of CTMP
can be improved by alkaline peroxide bleaching.