• Journal of the Korean Wood Science and Technology
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.477-493
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• 2016

A single process using hot water (0% green liquor) and green liquor (GL) was investigated for pre-pulping extraction on two types of raw material. The GL was applied at different alkali charges of 0-5% on a dry wood weight basis. The extractions were performed at an H-factor 900 at $180^{\circ}C$. The 0% and 3% GL extraction detected acetic acid (AA) at 10.02 and $9.94g/{\ell}$, extracts derived from hardwood, 2.46 and $3.76g/{\ell}$, extracts derived from softwood, respectively. The single liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) was studied using tri-n-alkylphosphine oxide (TAPO). Response surface methodology (RSM) was employed as an efficient approach for predictive model building and optimization of AA recovery conditions. The extraction of AA was evaluated with a three-level factorial design. Three independent variables, pH (0.5-3.5), temperature ($25-65^{\circ}C$), and residence time (24-48 min) were investigated. Applying the RSM models obtained, the optimal conditions selected of extracts derived from hard- and softwood with a 3% GL were approximately pH 1.4, $26.6^{\circ}C$, 43.8 min and approximately pH 0.7, $25.2^{\circ}C$, 24.6 min, respectively. The predicted and experimental values of AA recovery yield were similar whilst sugar retention was 100%.