Abstract: A process is provided for heating up wood chips in one or more stages at progressively higher temperatures prior to steaming and pulping in an economical manner at a considerable cost saving; heating the chips in at least a first preheating stage directly with moisture-saturated hot air, optionally admixed with inert gas, having a temperature within the range from about 55.degree. to about 99.degree. C., preferably from 70.degree. to 90.degree. C., having been brought to that temperature in a heat exchanger with hot water or air heaters with waste gases, such as gases drawn at different levels from an evaporator, for example, a Lockman pre-evaporator column.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of sulphur compounds, volatile alcohols such as methanol, as well as by-products such as turpentine and the like, which are formed in connection with pulping, from the blow-expansion condensates from the evaporating series of a digestery, from turpentine mother liquors, or from other liquids in a separate treatment unit. The liquids are treated in a vacuum stripping unit by means of a proportion of secondary steam which is obtained from the last step of a multi-stage evaporating plant. The excess of secondary steam is condensed by means of indirect condensation in a first surface condenser, whose exhaust vapors, together with the vapors leaving the stripping unit and with gases that are to be removed from the evaporating steps, are condensed by means of indirect condensation in a second surface condenser.