hardwood pulps a total process yield of about 35 40 on corn stalk is equal to or better than total yield values for harsher and more costly pulping and bleaching processes finally the process of the present invention accomplishes this yield using moderate chemical charges temperatures and pressures to date there has been no prior art process which makes use of the process steps in the order presented in accordance with the present invention there are at least two notable differences between the process of the present invention and prior art processes currently attempted on nonwoods firstly the process of the present invention uses mild or moderate conditions for the pulping of the raw material most prior art processes use much higher chemical charges temperatures and pressures for pulping stage while the present co inventors do not wish to be bound by a particular theory of operation it is contemplated that the harsh conditions of prior art processes actually make it more difficult to remove lignin from the raw material and may result in the re depositing of lignin on the fibers secondly the harshness of ozone as a bleaching agent is well documented see e g u s pat no 5 770 010 issued to jelks on jun 23 1998 herein incorporated by reference indeed ozone often causes some damage to pulp fibers as it attacks lignin and color causing molecules for this reason ozone has been avoided as a bleaching agent for nonwoods especially cereal straw since nonwood fibers are often slender and fragile however ozone offers both powerful delignifying and bleaching action in the same stage its use in the present inventive process thus facilitates the production of strong white and bright pulps from corn stover and other nonwood materials therefore in a preferred embodiment.