Production of high-quality bleached chemi-mechanical pulp from moso bamboo via an improved pre-conditioning refiner chemical alkaline peroxide mechanical pulping process

Moso bamboo is a fast-growing, abundant resource with significant potential as a sustainable alternative to wood for pulp production. However, traditional kraft pulping of moso bamboo faces challenges such as low yield, high pollutant loads, and inferior pulp quality. This study developed an improved pre-conditioning refiner chemical alkaline peroxide mechanical pulp (P-RC APMP) process integrated with multi-stage hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) bleaching to efficiently produce high-quality bleached chemi-mechanical pulp (CMP) from moso bamboo. Key parameters, including pulping energy consumption, bleaching efficiency, fiber morphology, and key strength indices (tensile, tear, and burst), were systematically investigated. Results indicated that moso bamboo exhibited significant potential as a non-wood fiber source for pulp production, with holocellulose (76.4 %) and cellulose (52.6 %) contents comparable to those of masson pine and poplar. However, the comparatively higher density, elevated extractives content, and increased ash levels of moso bamboo relative to conventional wood species presented processing challenges that negatively impacted the pulping efficiency, chemical consumption, and final product quality. The improved P-RC APMP process integrated with 2–3 stages of H 2 O 2 bleaching successfully produced high-quality bleached CMP from moso bamboo, achieving a pulp yield exceeding 75 %, an ISO brightness range of 68.5–73.5 %, and desirable tensile, tear, and burst indices. Meanwhile, it was found that the pulping process exhibited higher energy consumption and bleaching complexity compared to wood-based counterparts, highlighting areas for further investigation. This work demonstrated a viable method to produce high-value bamboo CMP suitable for various fiber-based products, such as cultural paper, packaging materials, tissue grades, and molded products. By diversifying fiber resources, this approach supports sustainable forest conservation and aligns with circular bioeconomy principles. • Moso bamboo P-RC APMP achieves > 75 % yield and 68.5–73.5 % ISO brightness. • Moso bamboo P-RC APMP matches poplar/eucalyptus in mechanical properties. • Elevated energy/bleaching requirements vs. wood for moso bamboo P-RC APMP. • Moso bamboo P-RC APMP enables sustainable, diverse fiber-based products. • High-value bamboo valorization promotes circular bioeconomy.