Abstract:
The invention is of particular application to the reduction of lignin content in cellulose pulps without causing deleterious degradation of the cellulose, the complex magnesium salts, such as chelates of magnesium and aliphatic alpha- and betahydroxycarboxylic acids, reducing or entirely preventing attack of oxygen on the hemicellulose and cellulose carbohydrates, without appreciably diminishing the oxidation of the lignin and its dissolution in the course of the process.