Chemical composition and kraft pulping potential of 12 eucalypt species

• 12 Eucalyptus species have substantial differences regarding chemical composition.
• Holocellulose correlates positively with pulp yield.
• Handsheet bulk correlates well with tensile and tear index.
• E. globulus presents the best results regarding kraft and handsheet properties.
• Some eucalypt species studied have potential to be used as pulpwood.

Eucalypts are among the most important short-rotation hardwoods, planted worldwide for the pulp and paper industry. Even though the genus comprises over 700 species, only about a dozen species are used for pulping purposes, therefore, showing the potential for diversification. Six-year-old eucalypt trees from 12 species (Eucalyptus botryoides, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Eucalyptus grandis, Corymbia maculata, Eucalyptus ovata, Eucalyptus propinqua, Eucalyptus resinifera, Eucalyptus rudis, Eucalyptus saligna, Eucalyptus sideroxylon, and Eucalyptus viminalis) were analyzed for chemical composition, fiber morphological, pulping and handsheet paper properties to determine their kraft pulping suitability. The 12 species showed substantial differences regarding extractives (6.1–18.9%), lignin (21.6–30.8%) and holocellulose content (55.4–70.1%). The high inter-species variation in chemical composition produced pulps with different yields (between 38.9 and 49.8%) and degree of delignification (kappa number between 11.6 and 24.2). The combination of these results with the morphological and handsheet properties suggests that E. globulus, E. ovata, E. grandis,E. saligna and E. botryoides have the best overall characteristics for kraft pulping.