The need for paper has been increasing from year to year. Currently, it has reached 200 million tons per year and continues to increase by 3.5 percent each year. Consequently, the need for the materials in the production of paper has also continued to increase, especially the use of bleach containing chlorine dioxide (ClO2) which is toxic and causes pollution if often used.
"The use of chlorine dioxide as a bleach can cause a very adverse impact on the environment," said Ir. Ahmad M. Fuadi, M.T., at an open examination for doctorate promotion of Engineering in the KPTU Courtroom, Faculty of Engineering Universitas Gadjah Mada, Saturday (21/11). As the promoters were Prof. Ir. Budi Wahyudi Sediawan, S.U., Ph.D., Ir. Rochmadi, S.U., Ph.D., and Prof. Ir. Suryo Purwono, M.A.Sc., Ph.D.
According to Fuadi, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a type of bleach that can be used in the bleaching process with the concept of totally chlorine free (TCF). The effectiveness of hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching material is influenced by several metal ions in the pulp. "In order to use hydrogen peroxide effectively, those ions need to be pulled out in a Chelating way," he said.
In a dissertation entitled ‘The use of hydrogen peroxide as a pulp bleaching material’, Fuadi mentioned that hydrogen peroxide can bleach the pulp to approach 90 percent with the cellulose degradation effect that is small enough. "Considering the technical and economic side, H2O2 is worth considering to replace ClO2, so that negative effects to the environment can be minimized," he added.