TCF bleaching sequence in kraft pulping of olive tree pruning residues

► Chemically characterization and Kraft pulping of olive tree pruning residues. ► TCF bleaching with the following sequence of stages: OZQPOZQPO. ► Obtaining a TCF bleached Kraft pulp with a value of brightness above 90% ISO. ► Analysis of the need to refine the TCF bleached pulp. ► Comparison of physical–mechanical properties of different TCF bleached pulps. The aim of the present work was to find a suitable Kraft cooking process for olive tree pruning (OTP), in order to produce pulp of kappa number about 17. The Kraft pulp produced under optimized conditions showed a viscosity of 31.5mPa·s and good physical, mechanical, and optical properties, which are suitable for paper production. The physical–mechanical and optical properties were measured before and after bleaching. Although the OTP pulp was bleached to 90.9% ISO brightness (kappa