Bast fiber degumming can be achieved in TEMPO/NaClO/NaBr, TEMPO/laccase system, however, large amounts of harmful chemicals and/or expensive enzymes used in these systems caused high pressure on the environment and economic cost. To solve this problem, electrochemical catalyst TEMPO system (ECTS) was established for the degumming of scutched flax tow. Results showed that successful degumming could be achieved under the assisting method which could provide shearing force to the system (e.g., stirring, shaking, etc.), but could not be achieved with assisting method providing other kinds of force (e.g., ultrasound, electrode covering, etc.). The use of proton exchange membrane could improve the degumming efficiency. The reaction efficiency of ECTS decreased in the order of NHPI > 4- Acetamido -TEMPO > TEMPO; working electrode material of titanium ruthenium iridium > graphite > glassy carbon; and the rising of working electrode area. Under the optimal reaction condition (5 x 5 cm2 graphite flake working electrode, shaking speed 700 rpm, 0.2 mol/L 4- Acetamido -TEMPO, 0.25 mol/L electrolyte, pH 11.0, 2.1 V, 120 min, 85 degrees C), the cellulose content, lignin content, tenacity of the resulted SFT reached 82.3%, 1.8% and 1200 N/g, respectively. The waste water COD value of ECTS was 61.7% lower than that of TEMPO/NaClO/NaBr degumming, and similar with that of TEMPO/laccase degumming.
