pulped

Pulped refers to something that has been reduced to a pulp, a soft, wet mass produced by crushing, grinding, or chemically treating solid material. The term is used as both a verb form and an adjective to describe materials that have undergone pulping, such as wood fibers, fruit pulp, or coffee mucilage.

In manufacturing, pulping separates fibers from bulk material. Mechanical pulping uses grinding and refining to liberate fibers; it preserves most of the bulk but leaves more lignin, resulting in lower-strength, rougher fibers and products. Chemical pulping dissolves lignin with chemicals such as those used in kraft or sulfite processes, producing stronger, brighter fibers for high-quality papers. Hybrid approaches, including chemi-thermo-mechanical pulping, combine chemicals and heat to improve yield and strength.

Applications include paper and cardboard production, where pulped fibers form the base of most grades. Pulping also appears in food processing; many fruits and vegetables are pulped to make puree, sauces, or reconstituted ingredients. In coffee processing, "pulped" refers to a method where the fruit flesh is removed from the beans in different stages, producing distinct flavor profiles.

Environmental and quality aspects: pulping consumes energy and chemicals and generates waste streams that require treatment. Chemical pulping requires chemical recovery systems; bleaching can affect environmental impact. Recycled fibers and advances in pulping technology aim to improve efficiency and reduce ecological footprint.