A series of eight commercial pulps of widely different chemical characteristics were investigated. A study of the abilities of these pulps to decrease the alkalinity of 0.005 N NaOH was made, using a direct titration method. The investigation included a study of loss of alkalinity by neutralization, exchange adsorption, and direct sorption. The pulps were analyzed for such factors as are most likely to affect the ability of pulps to bind alkali. Analysis included hygroscopic moisture, pH, total ash and its composition, pentosans, copper numbers, uronic acid, and lignins. Further tests are outlined which demonstrate the effect of changing pulp composition.