Abstract: Methods to preserve starch present in pulp are provided and also methods to control calcium precipitation and/or scaling in digesters or BOD systems. The methods can be performed as part of a papermaking process. Process water containing pulp can be treated with a chloramine. Process water containing pulp with native starch can receive a double treatment with at least one biocide, such as chloramine, and at least one oxidant, such as sodium hypochlorite. The treatment can be performed in any suitable manner. The treatment can be performed at one or more stages or locations in a papermaking system. A target residual chloramine value or range can be achieved by the treatment. Packaging sheets/boards and other paper products manufactured using the methods provided exhibit superior strength and other desirable characteristics.

Abstract: Compositions for and methods of stabilizing bleaching and making paper or paperboard having suitable brightness are provided. A stabilizer composition is provided containing aminocarboxylate, hydroxy acid, and either polyamino acid or iminodisuccinate, or both. The stabilizer composition can have low levels or be free of magnesium, phosphates, and silicates. The present invention also relates to a method of stabilizing the bleaching of pulp at an alkaline pH.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling organic contaminants, such as xylans, pitch or both, that interfere with bleaching of fibers and/or cause other interference(s) in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers before any bleaching thereof with a composition which contains a hemicellulolytic enzyme and an organic contaminant removal adjuvant to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. The treated fibers can then be bleached and further used, for example, in making paper. The present invention also relates to the treatment compositions and to paper products made with fiber materials treated with these compositions. A method of enhancing enzymatic degradation of a substrate as well as formulations and systems for achieving the same are also provided. Various substrates can be degraded or otherwise processed, including biomass, paper mill sludge, and animal hides. Enzymatic degradation can be enhanced by including one or more polymeric surfactants.

Abstract: Methods to preserve starch present in pulp are provided and also methods to control calcium precipitation and/or scaling in digesters or BOD systems. The methods can be performed as part of a papermaking process. Process water containing pulp can be treated with a chloramine. Process water containing pulp with native starch can receive a double treatment with at least one biocide, such as chloramine, and at least one oxidant, such as sodium hypochlorite. The treatment can be performed in any suitable manner. The treatment can be performed at one or more stages or locations in a papermaking system. A target residual chloramine value or range can be achieved by the treatment. Packaging sheets/boards and other paper products manufactured using the methods provided exhibit superior strength and other desirable characteristics.

Abstract: A method and system for bio-oil recovery from biomass are provided which includes adding at least one separation aid to stillage that contains oil to form a treated stillage prior to centrifuging the stillage, and centrifuging the treated stillage in at least one centrifuge to separate at least a portion of the oil from the treated stillage. The separation aid can contain at least one lecithin and at least one oil and optionally at least one surfactant having an HLB value of at least 6. Treated stillage products are also provided which can contain the indicated separation aid and recovered oil.

Abstract: Methods of making paper or paperboard having enhanced dry strength are provided. An enzyme and a polymer including at least one of a cationic water-soluble polymer and an amphoteric water-soluble polymer can be added to a papermaking pulp to yield a treated pulp. The treated pulp can then be formed into paper or paperboard having a dry strength greater than paper or paperboard formed from papermaking pulp without the addition of the enzyme and polymer. Any suitable enzyme can be used, for example, a laccase or a cellulase. Any suitable polymer can be used. For example, at least one of a glyoxylated polyacrylamide (gPAM), a polyvinylamine, a decarboxylated polyacrylamide, and a dimethylamine-epichlorohydrin (epi-DMA).

Abstract: A method of controlling an exothermic or endothermic chemical reaction is provided. The method involves measuring a temperature of a first reactant flowing at a first flow rate, contacting the first reactant with a second reactant flowing at a second flow rate to form a reaction product, measuring the temperature of the reaction product, and determining the temperature difference between the temperature of the first reactant and the temperature of the reaction product. The method can further involve adjusting the flow rate of at least one of the first reactant and the second reactant, or shutting down flow, based on the temperature difference. An apparatus to carry out the method is also provided. The method and apparatus can be useful in controlling many different reactions, including the reaction of sodium hypochlorite and ammonia to form monochloramine.

Abstract: A method is provided for preventing, minimizing, and/or eliminating the migration of mineral oils from paper food packaging into packaged food. The method can include adding a copper-containing oxidase enzyme, such as a laccase enzyme, to a paper pulp from which the paper food packaging is to be formed. The migration of mineral oils originating from residual inks in recycled old corrugated containers and old newsprint, is particularly suppressed, including the migration of C10-C25 fractions of aromatic mineral oil hydrocarbons and of saturated mineral oil hydrocarbons.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of treating an aqueous system for biocide control, by adding an acidified solution that includes monoalkyldithiocarbamate salt and alkyl isothiocyanate to an aqueous system. A biocide feed system is also provided that is configured to generate a reproducible level of alkyl isothiocyanate. The method and system provide effective levels of alkyl isothiocyanate for rapid biocidal activity, along with levels of monoalkyldithiocarbamate salt which can decompose to form additional alkyl isothiocyanate and provide longer-term biocidal activity.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling organic contaminants, such as xylans, pitch or both, that interfere with bleaching of fibers and/or cause other interference(s) in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers before any bleaching thereof with a composition which contains a hemicellulolytic enzyme and an organic contaminant removal adjuvant to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. The treated fibers can then be bleached and further used, for example, in making paper. The present invention also relates to the treatment compositions and to paper products made with fiber materials treated with these compositions. A method of enhancing enzymatic degradation of a substrate as well as formulations and systems for achieving the same are also provided. Various substrates can be degraded or otherwise processed, including biomass, paper mill sludge, and animal hides. Enzymatic degradation can be enhanced by including one or more polymeric surfactants.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling deposit-forming contaminants that comprise pitch or other fiber components which can interfere with the processing of the fibers, reduce paper quality, or both in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers with a lipase and at least one peroxide source-free oxidant, and optionally nonionic surfactant, to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. Paper products of the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling organic contaminants, such as xylans, pitch or both, that interfere with bleaching of fibers and/or cause other interference(s) in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers before any bleaching thereof with a composition which contains a hemicellulolytic enzyme and an organic contaminant removal adjuvant to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. The treated fibers can then be bleached and further used, for example, in making paper. The present invention also relates to the treatment compositions and to paper products made with fiber materials treated with these compositions. A method of enhancing enzymatic degradation of a substrate as well as formulations and systems for achieving the same are also provided. Various substrates can be degraded or otherwise processed, including biomass, paper mill sludge, and animal hides. Enzymatic degradation can be enhanced by including one or more polymeric surfactants.

Abstract: A method is provided for controlling deposit-forming contaminants that comprise pitch or other fiber components which can interfere with the processing of the fibers, reduce paper quality, or both in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers with a lipase and at least one peroxide source-free oxidant, and optionally nonionic surfactant, to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. Paper products of the method are also provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for measuring an electrolytically-active species concentration in an aqueous or non-aqueous solution for use in providing control of the concentration of the species in a source solution thereof based on the measurements. In the method, a sample containing an electrolytically-active species is added into a measurement cell that has a working electrode and an auxiliary electrode, and a constant current is applied to the measurement cell while the working and auxiliary electrodes are in contact with the sample with monitoring of voltage difference across the electrodes until a change in the voltage difference is detected. A feedback signal is generated based on a parameter of the change in the voltage difference that is directly proportional to the amount of the electrolytically-active species in the sample, which can be used for process control. An apparatus is also described.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a creped fiber web is provided and includes providing a rotating cylindrical dryer surface, providing a creping adhesive composition or coating package having a pH boosted at least 0.5 pH units relative to its original base formulation pH in the range of from about 4.5 to about 9, for chemically setting a crosslinkable polymer component at least in part before applying the creping adhesive composition to the rotating cylindrical dryer surface to provide an adhesive dryer surface on which a fiber web can be transferred, dried, and creped.

Abstract: Methods to control organic contaminants in fibers are described. One method involves contacting the fibers with a) diatomaceous earth and b) detackifier, or an ester hydrolyzing enzyme, or both, for a sufficient time and in a sufficient amount to control the organic contaminants present in the fibers. This method is effective to reduce stickies in paper mill furnish formed with recycled fibers. A method for pitch control in paper mill furnish formed with virgin fibers is also provided. Resulting paper products formed from the processed fibers are also described as well as methods to make them.

Abstract: Enhancement of papermaking drainage and retention properties of aqueous cellulosic suspensions used for production of paper or paper board with a retention/drainage additive system including ionic crosslinked acrylic acid-acrylate copolymer microparticles is described. Paper and paperboard products made with these copolymer microparticles are also described.

Abstract: A method to degrade or digest sludge, such as from pulp and/or paper manufacturing, is described. Compositions to use in the method are further described.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for producing market pulp which include treatment of pulp with diverse ionic compounds before pulp drying. Cationically and anionically charged compounds can be used to treat pulp before pulp drying to improve pulp dewatering performance and efficiency in the production of market pulp. Market pulp products containing the treatment compounds are also described.

Abstract: A method is described for making paper or paper board by applying a composition containing enzyme and cationic coagulant to papermaking pulp prior to paper forming to preferably improve drainage, retention, or both. Sheets of pulp from which paper or paperboard products are made with the method can exhibit excellent drainage, excellent retention of pulp fines, or both. The method also can be applied to other pulp treatments, such as waste water treatments. A system for making such treatments of paper furnish is also provided.