4.1 Oxygen Pulping: A high‑yield alternative to Kraft pulping

Transitioning to more sustainable pulp and paper production requires the development of alternative methods for efficiently separating fibers from the wood matrix. Oxygen delignification offers several advantages for the industry, and interest in this technology has increased markedly in recent years. In this study, a novel process was been developed in which oxygen is applied directly to wood chips without any prior chemical or mechanical pre-treatment. This approach resulted in significantly higher pulp yields compared with conventional kraft cooking. The influence of key process parameters on both yield and pulp quality was systematically evaluated. The resulting pulps showed notably high lignin content while also exhibiting a brightness level considerably higher than that of kraft pulps produced under standard conditions.