Some variations provide a process for producing a nanocellulose material, comprising: providing a biomass feedstock comprising a bleached or unbleached pulp material; fractionating the feedstock in the presence of an acid, a solvent for lignin, and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form cellulose fibrils and/or cellulose crystals, thereby generating a nanocellulose material. The process is preferably co-located with, or adjacent to, a mill that generates the pulp material. There are several advantages of a bolt-on AVAP nanocellulose plant to an existing pulp mill, as disclosed herein.

The present invention belongs to the technical field of functional film materials; disclosed are a wavelength-controllable cellulose iridescent film and a method for preparation thereof. The method is: (1) mixing well a cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) suspension with lactic acid solution and glucose solution to obtain a CNC/lactic acid/glucose mixed solution; said CNC suspension being a cellulose nanocrystal suspension; (2) drying the CNC/lactic acid/glucose mixed solution to form a film to obtain a cellulose iridescent film. The method of the present invention is simple and low in cost. In the present invention, by means of the addition of lactic acid and glucose, the prepared film has iridescent film characteristics; the wavelength of the iridescent film is within the range of visible light, and the wavelengths of different colors of iridescent film are controllable.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with sulfur dioxide or a sulfite compound and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The total mechanical energy may be less than 500 kilowatt-hours per ton. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity nanocellulose with low mechanical energy input. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with sulfur dioxide or a sulfite compound and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and mechanically treating the cellulose-rich solids to form nanofibrils and/or nanocrystals. The total mechanical energy may be less than 500 kilowatt-hours per ton. The crystallinity of the nanocellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. The nanocellulose material may include nanofibrillated cellulose, nanocrystalline cellulose, or both. In some embodiments, the nanocellulose material is hydrophobic via deposition of some lignin onto the cellulose surface. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the nanocellulose to form completely renewable composites.

The present invention relates to treatment of unbleached or partially bleached or alkaline extracted dissolving pulp with one or more cellulases. The cellulase treatment results in increased viscosity control, reduced viscosity and/or increased reactivity of the final dissolving pulp.

A translucent paper comprising a base paper layer, and optionally a coating layer adjacent to the base paper layer, wherein the base paper layer comprises a mixture of wood pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose, characterized in that the pulp fiber has a degree of Schopper-Riegler (SR) of more than or equal to 50 SR and that the microfibrillated cellulose is comprised in the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose in an amount of 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose and wherein the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose has a degree of Schopper-Riegler (SR) of between 65 SR and 95 SR, preferably of between 70 SR and 90 SR, as measured under ISO 5267-1.

A translucent paper comprising a base paper layer, and optionally a coating layer adjacent to the base paper layer, wherein the base paper layer comprises a mixture of wood pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose, characterized in that the pulp fiber has a degree of Schopper-Riegler (SR) of more than or equal to 50 SR and that the microfibrillated cellulose is comprised in the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose in an amount of 10 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, based on the weight of the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose and wherein the mixture of pulp fiber and microfibrillated cellulose has a degree of Schopper-Riegler (SR) of between 65 SR and 95 SR, preferably of between 70 SR and 90 SR, as measured under ISO 5267-1.

The present invention relates to a multiply containerboard for use in corrugated board, said multiply containerboard comprising: a first outer ply, a second outer ply, and at least one intermediate ply sandwiched between the first and second outer ply, wherein said first and second outer ply comprise at least 70 wt % neutral sulfite semi chemical (NSSC) pulp based on dry weight, and wherein said intermediate ply comprises at least 30 wt % unbleached kraft pulp based on dry weight and at least one cellulose based strength enhancement agent, and wherein said intermediate ply comprises less than 30 wt % NSSC pulp based on dry weight.

The present invention relates to a multiply containerboard for use in corrugated board, said multiply containerboard comprising: a first outer ply, a second outer ply, and at least one intermediate ply sandwiched between the first and second outer ply, wherein said first and second outer ply comprise at least 70 wt % neutral sulfite semi chemical (NSSC) pulp based on dry weight, and wherein said intermediate ply comprises at least 30 wt % unbleached kraft pulp based on dry weight and at least one cellulose based strength enhancement agent, and wherein said intermediate ply comprises less than 30 wt % NSSC pulp based on dry weight.