Light-Induced Yellowing of Mechanical and Ultra-High Yield Pulps. I. Effect of Methylation, NaBH4, Reduction and Ascorbic Acid on Chromophore Formation

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Abstract
Absorption difference spectra of bleached TMP irradiated with near-uv light exhibited two apparent absorption maxima at π 410 nm and 330 nm. Experiments with borohydride-reduced pulp suggest that photochemical formation of aromatic carbonyls contributes to the λ = 330 nm peak. Chromophore formation followed an apparently first-order rate law, and the rate was unaffected by methylation of phenolic hydroxyl groups, or by exhaustive reduction of carbonyl groups with NaBH4. Methylation of phenolic hydroxyl, while having no effect on the kinetics of chromophore formation, did decrease the maximum change in absorption coefficient, ΔK∞. Treatment of bleached TMP with ascorbic acid slowed light-induced yellowing substantially; significant yellowing occurred only after 2 hours. Light-induced bleaching of a chromophore with λmax π 350 nm, possibly a stilbene, occurred during the first 90 minutes of irradiation.