Evaluation of pulp properties produced from rice straw by combination the monoethanolamine and potassium hydroxide

In this research, rice straw was used as raw material. Potassium hydroxide was combined with monoethanolamine (MEA) as liquor. In another processes NaOH/Na2So3, KOH/K2So3 and KOH 14% was used as references pulp. The results showed that using pure MEA(15%) produced the highest yield and the highest kappa number. By using potassium hydroxide as a additive agent in MEA pulping, the amount of reject, yield and kappa number was decreased and the lowest yield and the lowest kappa number relevant to MEA(15%) combined with KOH (40%). In addition, in KOH pulping observed that, with increasing concentration of MEA, as additive agent, the amount of total yield increased but the kappa number and reject content was decreased. Results showed that the highest tensile index and tear index were relevant to MEA (15%) combined with KOH (20%) and the highest burs index relevant to NaOH/Na2SO3 treatment. According to the optical properties, it was found that the highest brightness was achieved in K2SO3/KOH. The highest opacity relevant to the KOH14%. The result shows that MEA process in combined with Potassium hydroxide can be done success fully on rice straw and properties of pulp production, specially in aspect of mechanical strength, in term of combination is superior than soda and Potassium hydroxide process.