Abstract: A process for pulping hardwood to produce cellulose pulp in good yield and of high quality, with a low requirement for causticized pulping liquor, which comprises in a first pulping stage pulping the hardwood in an alkaline pulping liquor containing sodium sulfide at a pH of about 10.5 to about 13 and at a temperature within the range from about 110.degree. to about 170.degree. C while generating hydrogen sulfide in situ by reaction of sodium sulfide with organic acids liberated in the pulping; and then in a second pulping stage, following directly after the first pulping stage, continuing the pulping at a pH higher than said first stage pH, within the range of about 12.5 to about 14 and at a temperature higher than said first stage temperature within the range from about 145.degree. to about 190.degree. C, in the presence of added alkaline pulping liquor comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide until cellulose pulp is produced.

Abstract: A process is provided for the delignification of lignocellulosic material wherein the lignocellulosic material, prior to the delignification, is treated with water or an aqueous solution to remove compounds which catalyze the degradation of carbohydrates and then the delignification is carried out with oxygen and alkali in the presence of a manganese compound to improve the selectivity of the delignification and increase the rate of delignification.

Abstract: Process for improving the selectivity of delignification of lignocellulosic material in the presence of oxygen gas and alkali by maintaining a carbon monoxide content in the gas phase within the range from about 1% to about 12% by volume. The carbon monoxide concentration is maintained by withdrawing carbon monoxide and oxygen gas from the delignification, and separating and recycling withdrawn oxygen gas.

Abstract: A process is provided for delignifying and bleaching cellulose pulp, which comprises carrying out the delignification and bleaching with oxygen and alkali in the presence of sodium bicarbonate, while removing carbon dioxide from the gas phase as required to maintain a carbon dioxide partial pressure within the range from about 0.001 to about 3 bars, thereby improving the selectivity of the delignification and bleaching.

Abstract: A process is provided for producing cellulose pulp of high brightness, which comprises pulping lignocellulosic material such as wood with oxygen under superatmospheric pressure in two stages, in the first at a pH within the range from about 6 to about 9, and in the second at a more alkaline pH of at least about 10.