AbstractBeech wood samples subjected to pulping in HCl‐catalysed acetic acid media (Acetosolv process) under selected conditions were bleached using several Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) sequences including peracetic acid (Paa), alkaline (E), oxygen (O), chelating (Q) and peroxide (P) treatments. PaaEQPP sequences starting from acetic acid media led to pulps with poor brightness, which was improved when the same sequence was carried out starting from aqueous media. An EOQPP sequence led to a pulp with acceptable properties, which were improved by a optimised EOQPaaP sequence, in which a fully bleached pulp was obtained at a SCAN viscosity of 604 cm3 g−1. EOQPaaP‐bleached pulp was explored for carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) manufacture employing heterogeneous conditions in isopropanol media, and a CMC with a degree of substitution of 1.16 was obtained. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry