PROCESS FOR BLEACHING OF LIGNOCELLULOSE-CONTAINING PULP

The present invention relates to a process for bleaching of lignocellulose-containing pulp, where the pulp is first treated with a complexing agent, then delignified with an organic peracid or a salt thereof, and subsequently bleached with a peroxide-containing compound, ozone or sodium dithionite. Before bleaching, the pulp is washed at a pH of at least about 4. Suitably, delignification is performed with the strongly oxidizing peracetic acid, so that a considerable increase in brightness as well as a considerable reduction of the kappa number are obtained after said bleaching. The brightness-increasing effect is very selective, i.e. the viscosity of the pulp is maintained to a relatively great extent. By a suitable choice of pH in all the stages before the chlorine-free bleaching, the advantageous metal ions are retained in the pulp, while at the same time the pH adjustment between the stages is minimized and the resulting spent bleach liquors are advantageously used internally, e.g. for washing the pulp.