ULTRASOUND ORIGINATED DEGRADATION OF CHEMICAL-PAPER PULP

Samples of wood cellulose were treated with ultrasound in water suspension in different durations and temperature of 25, 35 and 50°C. Degree of degradation was the highest in 50°C. Cellulose isolated from sapwood and heartwood underwent degradation in higher degree than Merck's cellulose. The highest rate constant was calculated for sapwood cellulose (degradation at 50°C). It was equal to (60.5 ± 2.4) × 10-8s-1. The highest activation energy was calculated for heartwood cellulose (degradation in 50°C) and it was equal to (36.4 ± 2.4) kJ.mol-1.