Title
Microscopy and spectroscopy tools for the description of delignification
Authors
H. M. HERNÁNDEZ-HERNÁNDEZ J. J. CHANONA-PÉREZ E. TERRÉS A. VEGA P. LIGERO R. R. FARRERA-REBOLLO and S. VILLANUEVA

Received June 6, 2018
Published Volume 53 Issue 1-2 January-February
Keywords lignocellulosic material, confocal laser scanning microscopy, delignification, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy

Abstract
This work describes and evaluates the changes in agave fibres occurring during a green pulping process by microscopy and spectroscopy techniques, providing a comprehensive and quantitative view of the delignification of agave (Agave atrovirens) fibres. The effects of 80% acetic acid concentration and 0.3% hydrochloric acid concentration on pulp yield, kappa number and pulp viscosity were investigated over time. In order to study the influence of the Acetosolv treatment on the microstructure and chemical composition of agave fibres, spectroscopic and microstructural characterisations of selected pulps were performed at different points during the process.