Abstract: Methods for oxygen delignification of a pulp are disclosed, including initially delignifying the pulp at a delignification temperature of less than 90° C., adding oxygen to the pulp so that the oxygen is present during the initial delignification step, and further delignifying the pulp at a delignification temperature of greater than 90° C., the difference between the two delignification temperatures being less than about 20° C., and the pressure being greater in the initial delignification step. The method also includes adding alkali solely to the initial delignification step in order to obtain high alkalinity therein.

Abstract: Methods for oxygen delignification of a pulp are disclosed, including initially delignifying the pulp at a delignification temperature of less than 90° C., adding oxygen to the pulp so that the oxygen is present during the initial delignification step, and further delignifying the pulp at a delignification temperature of greater than 90° C., the difference between the two delignification temperatures being less than about 20° C., and the pressure being greater in the initial delignification step. The method also includes adding alkali solely to the initial delignification step in order to obtain high alkalinity therein.

Abstract: A process for producing a pulp suitable for papermaking from a nonwood fiber source material. Representative nonwood fiber source materials include corn stover and wheat straw. The process includes the steps of providing a nonwood fiber source material; digesting the nonwood fiber source material with an alkaline pulping solution at at least about atmospheric pressure; reducing the pH of the nonwood fiber source material to an acidic pH with an acid solution; treating the nonwood fiber source material having an acidic pH with ozone; and treating the nonwood fiber source material with a bleaching solution to form a papermaking pulp.

Abstract: A method for processing straw pulp that includes caustic treatment is provided. The caustic treated straw pulp can be incorporated into a papermaking furnish to provide a paper product. The caustic treated pulp imparts strength to papers incorporating the pulp.

Abstract: A method is provided for the use of borates in the recausticization of alkali-containing liquors such as those produced in the chemical and semi-chemical pulping of wood and in the oxidation and bleaching of wood pulp. Sodium hydroxide is regenerated from sodium carbonate-containing smelts in such pulp processes by autocausticization through the addition of limited amounts of borate. Autocausticization may be carried out at boron to carbonate molar ratios below 2:1 and at sodium to boron molar ratios exceeding 3:1, resulting in high reaction efficiency. Partial autocausticization using borate may also be combined with conventional lime recausticization for the regeneration of sodium hydroxide from sodium carbonate-containing smelts.

Abstract: A low energy process for the manufacture of high yield pulp that involves the processing of chemically-treated chips or wood fiber at high stresses or intensity.

Abstract: In the treatment of cellulose pulp in connection with bleaching, the pulp is first cooked and, if necessary, oxygen delignified in order to reduce the Kappa number below 24, preferably below 14, and after that the pulp is treated in an acid stage at a pH of 2-5 and at a temperature range of 75-130° C. in order to reduce the Kappa number by 2-9 units. To prevent essential weakening of the strength properties of the pulp in the acid stage treatment tower, the retention time, t min, is 30 to 300 minutes and the treatment temperature, T° C.

Abstract: The strength properties of chemical cellulose pulp (particularly kraft pulp) are improved by substituting a cold impregnation soak for conventional impregnation procedures. After steaming, wood chips are soaked in an alkaline liquid at a temperature of about 80-110° C. (preferably 80-100° C., or 90-105° C.) for between one-half-72 hours (typically about 2-4 hours) at a pressure of about 0-15 bar (preferably about 1-5 bar), to dissolve at least about 8% of the wood (preferably about 10-20%) and at least about 15% of the lignin. The alkaline liquid used preferably contains sulfide (e.g. black liquor, green liquor, white liquor, or mixtures thereof), but almost any alkaline liquid having an alkali concentration of about 1.0 mole of NaOH/liter or less (typically about 0.75 m/l or less) is suitable. The wood chips are then raised to a cooking temperature of about 145-180° C. and cooked to produce the cellulose chemical pulp.

Abstract: A low energy thermomechanical pulping process which employs an enzyme treatment stage between two low energy thermomechanical stages.

Abstract: A method for making dissolving pulp from cellulosic fiber. The fiber is treated with a 3-stage sequence having a first alkali extraction stage, a xylanase treatment stage, and a second alkali extraction stage. Having the xylanase treatment stage sandwiched between 2 alkali extraction stages results in the dissolving pulp exhibiting both a very low xylan content of about 2.6% by weight or less and a very low mannan content of about 1.5% by weight or less. The low contents of these 2 components cannot be achieved with comparison treatments of only an alkali extraction stage, only a xylanase treatment stage, or only 2 stages of a xylanase treatment stage and an alkali extraction stage.

Abstract: Chemical cellulose pulp (e.g. kraft pulp) is produced with enhanced strength and/or yield using a strength or yield enhancing additive such as polysulfide or anthraquinone or its equivalents or derivatives, and in a manner that allows effective recovery/reuse of the additive so as to make the process more economical. In a continuous digester a low temperature and relatively low alkalinity protecting zone is provided at the top of the digester terminating with a first screen, and a second screen is provided below the first screen. Between the first and second screens, prior to bulk delignification, a first counter-current zone is provided, and additive-containing liquid from the first screen is recirculated to the slurry at or near the digester inlet to enhance yield or strength.

Abstract: This process involves feeding cellulose into an extruder with an acid solution. The extruder is comprised of a screw and a barrel. The screw is rotated so as to pressurize the cellulose, and the cellulose undergoes acid hydrolysis and forms microcrystalline cellulose. The invented process can be accomplished by using pure cellulose or a lignocellulosic material as the starting material. If a lignocellulosic material is used, then a basic solution is added to it and the lignocellulosic material is fed through an extruder so as to obtain a mixture comprising lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The lignin and hemicellulose are extracted and the remaining cellulose is processed, as discussed previously, to form microcrystalline cellulose.

Abstract: The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a method of removing wax from recycled cellulosic fiber. The cellulosic fiber is pulped in a pulper to a suspension with a consistency of less than about 10% by weight. The suspension is then screened to remove coarse and fine contaminants. The screened suspension is diluted to a consistency of less than about 3% by weight. The wax is removed from the diluted suspension using a froth flotation device. The suspension is then washed and/or thickened.

Abstract: A soft, bright and strong tissue paper product and a process for preparing such a tissue paper product is provided. The inventive tissue paper product is prepared from raw cotton linter fibers and demonstrates unexpected medical benefits or advantages in addition to a balance of properties.

Abstract: This invention relates to the process of manufacture of resin treated mercerized cellulose fibers and fibrous products prepared therefrom and is directed particularly to a method of improving permeability and bulking properties and reducing water retention value (WRV) of a conventional high permeability bulk pulp. The invention also includes the improved cellulose fibers, cellulosic sheet materials containing said fibers, and products therefrom (such as automotive oil and air filters).

Abstract: An improved process is described for oxygen delignification of medium consistency pulp slurry which teaches control parameters and their resultant effect on final product characteristics. Specifically, a process is described wherein pulp slurries of from approximately eight percent to sixteen percent consistency, are heated to a temperature of at least 170.degree. F. and impregnated oxygen gas and alkali to bring the slurry to a pH of from approximately 11-12.5. The slurry is mixed in a high shear mixer, for agitating mixing therein, under pressure of from approximately 20-180 psig for a first reaction time of typically 5 minutes. Additional alkali is added to the slurry to return the pH to at least 11, preferably at least 12, and the residual alkali concentration to at least 4.0 gpl at the end of the first reaction time. The temperature of the slurry is raised to at least 170.degree. F. followed by mixing for a second reaction time of typically 55 additional minutes.

Abstract: Enhanced removal of lignin and other extractives in a pulping process is achieved by contacting wood chips and the like with a liquid mixture comprised of white liquor and aminoalkoxylsilane and optionally, one or more nonionic and/or anionic surfactants.

Abstract: A method of creating a number of separate product streams from an agricultural waste material, comprising: providing a starting material consisting of an agricultural waste material; hydrolyzing the starting material with an acid solution at atmospheric pressure, and temperatures not exceeding about 100.degree. C., to create an absorbent, hydrolyzed solid residue and a xylose-containing liquor; reserving the xylose-containing liquor; and delignifying the hydrolyzed solid residue with a basic solution, to create a fiber solid residue suitable for use as an absorbent material, and a dissolved lignin-containing solution.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the alkalinity of a pulp slurry in a broke pulper, and more particularly, to adjusting the pH of the pulp slurry using carbon dioxide.

Abstract: A method for reducing brightness reversion and yellowness (b*) of bleached mechanical wood pulps. The pulp is digested in an aqueous formaldehyde solution containing carbonate, preferably in an amount up to 30% by weight of pulp. Paper made from the digested pulp can be further improved by treating with a reversion inhibitor such as a polyethylene glycol bisthiol.

Abstract: Kraft pulp is bleached to an acceptable brightness (e.g. 86 ISO or more) without using chlorinated organic compounds, yet the strength of the produced pulp remains commercially acceptable. In the manufacture of pulp, the pulp which is cooked and oxygen delignified to a kappa number of 14 or less, and then is bleached with ozone at a medium consistency. After the ozone treatment, heavy metals are removed from the pulp, and then the pulp is led to oxygen and/or peroxide treatment, which is followed by a second ozone bleaching stage. The sequence (ZT) (EOP) (ZP) is preferred.

Abstract: A method that solves the problem of suppressing disturbing effects of transition and alkaline earth metal compounds during bleaching of chemically digested lignocellulosic pulp in a sequence with oxygen bleaching prior to oxidative stages with introduction of for instance ozone, superoxides, hydrogen peroxide and peroxy acids. The conditions during the oxygen bleaching are chosen so that the properties of these metal compounds are changed and the compounds removed from the pulp during the oxygen bleaching under such conditions that the attack on the cellulose is small and the fluctuations of the pulp quality due to fluctuating amounts of these metal compounds decrease markedly.

Abstract: Provided is a process for making pulp having the steps of:contacting an undigested cellulosic fiber material with a pretreatment liquid formulated from a mixture comprising alkali metal bicarbonate and alkali metal hydrogen sulfide as reaction components which are dissolved or disbursed in an aqueous liquid, under conditions that:(1) the reaction components react to form H.sub.2 S, CO.sup.2 and alkali metal carbonate in situ;(2) HS.sup.- ions are formed by disassociation of H.sub.2 S and/or by disassociation of alkali metal hydrogen sulfide; and(3) at least a portion of the H.sub.2 S and/or HS.sup.- ions is absorbed or diffused into the undigested cellulosicfiber material to enhance the sulfur content of the undigested cellulosic fiber material,to form a sulfur enhanced, undigested cellulosic fiber material, wherein the pretreatment liquid is substantially free of alkali metal hydroxide; anddigesting the sulfur enhanced, undigested cellulosic fiber material in a digester to form a pulp.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for treating cellulosic fibers using an alkali metal hydroxide. The process first prepares the cellulosic fibers as a high consistency mixture with water and then adds an alkali metal hydroxide. The high consistency process is quite efficient and has been found to produce cellulosic fibers that are essentially uniformly treated. Also disclosed is a handsheet prepared from the treated cellulosic fibers for use is disposable absorbent products.

Abstract: A method of producing a soft paper product incudes, a) providing a pulp sheet at a moisture content of no greater than about 10%, the pulp of said sheet not having been previously subjected to dry milling and not being predominately anfractuous; b) treating the pulp sheet at moisture content of no greater than about 10% with liquid ammonia of a concentration of at least 90% for a period of time less than or equal to about 60 seconds effective to increase degree of softness in the sheet of pulp from that existing prior to the treating, the pulp in the treated sheet remaining not predominately anfractuous after said treating; c) forming the treated pulp sheet into a papermaking slurry; and d) feeding the papermaking slurry into the headbox of a paper machine and producing a tissue paper product therefrom which has greater softness than a tissue paper product made from the same pulp which has not been so treated with said ammonia.

Abstract: An elementally chlorine-free method for the delignification and bleaching of pulp which involves the use of a neutral monoperoxysulfate bleaching step to delignify and thus brighten the pulp. The process achieves good selectivities above about 3 even at high delignification degrees of 60% or greater.

Abstract: The use of hot water extraction (pH 7-8, 165.degree. F.) in place of an alkaline extraction in pulp bleaching sequences between an ozone delignification stage alkaline wash and a brightening stage allows higher strength pulp to be achieved at essentially the same brightness levels using reduced overall amounts of bleaching chemicals. In addition, effluents from pulp washing stages following these treatments can be recycled without generating scale in process equipment because the solubility of salts that could form such scale is significantly greater in these effluents.

Abstract: A silicate-free liquid composition for use in bleaching cellulosic compositions, including cotton and cotton blended fabrics, comprised of hydrogen peroxide, potassium hydroxide, and optionally, a stabilizer which may be a magnesium salt formed from a mixture of magnesium oxide and citric acid.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a process for treating filter rods comprising cellulose acetate tow waste comprising the steps of:a. cutting said filter rods so that fiber of said cellulose acetate have a fiber length of less than about 4 inches; andb. treating said cut filter rods with an aqueous base until at least 5% of acetyl groups on said cellulose acetate has been hydrolyzed.Filter rods treated in this manner are suitable for use in various paper products. The process of the present invention may further include a step for repulping the cut filter rods to repulp any included plugwrap.Modified fiber comprising cellulose acetate wherein at least 5% of acetyl groups on said cellulose acetate have been hydrolyzed, said fiber having a length of less than about 4 inches, are also disclosed.Paper products comprising between about 5 and about 90% of the fiber of claim 21 and paper pulp are also disclosed.

Abstract: A dispersion of cellulose based fibers in straw is produced by the aid of alkali and strong mechanical agitation. This solubilizes the pentosane in the straw, and turns the mixture into a high viscosity paste, so that the forces from the agitation tear the individual straws apart and disperses the fibers. In this way the fibers can be dispersed at solid content up to 85% compared to only 8% by traditional methods. The treatment results in a molding paste, which can be used directly for plastic forming of cellulose based fiber products after neutralizing.

Abstract: Pulp bleaching processes employing peroxides and/or oxygen are improved by using bleaching additives, preferably before the application of the peroxide and/or oxygen. The bleaching additives contain at least one alkali metal sulfamate such as a sodium sulfamate and a polyaminocarboxylic acid such as DTPA or a salt thereof, such as sodium DTPA.

Abstract: Ethyleneamines are used in washing pulp to remove lignin. A process for washing a cellulose pulp mixture containing lignin to remove at least a portion of the lignin therefrom comprises use of a washing composition with at least about 100 ppm of an ethyleneamine. The process includes an improvement in a washing process a cellulose pulp mixture containing lignin wherein a washing composition is used to remove at least a portion of the lignin, the improvement comprising use of at least about 100 ppm of an ethyleneamine with the washing composition and/or using an amount of ethyleneamine at least equivalent to about 100 ppm based on the washing composition with the washing composition. The washing composition is also novel and includes a washing composition for washing kraft pulp comprising water and at least about 100 ppm of an ethyleneamine.

Abstract: A method of recycling sodium-based salts used for digesting wood in a digester during the manufacture of pulp and paper. The method comprises collecting a black liquor from the digester, concentrating the black liquor, and adding a salt to the black liquor in an amount sufficient to reduce the viscosity thereof. Preferred salts are thiocyanate salts. The black liquor is then oxidized to produce a green liquor and a causticizer added to the green liquor to produce a white liquor containing the sodium-based salts to be recycled. The white liquor is then returned to the digester.

Abstract: A method for eliminating the formation of sulfur dioxide in a refiner bleaching process is disclosed wherein a selected amount of a carbonate is added to the refiner contents at approximately the same time that sodium dithionite is added.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for ozone bleaching a medium consistency cellulosic fiber suspension include feeding the fiber suspension and an ozone in carrier gas stream under pressure into a fluidizing mixer; intimately and uniformly mixing the fiber suspension with the ozone to achieve a bleaching reaction; passing the mixture into a first reaction vessel to permit the bleaching reaction to proceed and to consume a major part of the ozone; adding a second bleaching chemical to the mixture; separating the excess ozone and carrier gas from the mixture in a second considerably larger vessel and removing the fiber suspension from the second vessel after the effective second bleaching reaction.

Abstract: A process for delignifying raw cellulose which comprises a preliminary treatment for impregnating raw cellulose with a monopersulphuric acid solution, a successive filtration without washing with recycle of the filtered liquid to the first step, and a treatment, at low temperature and in alkaline solution at a pH higher than 9, of the previously impregnated raw cellulose in order to permit the reaction of the monopersulphuric acid with the lignin contained in the raw cellulose.

Abstract: A method for the recovery of chemical values from spent lignocellulosic pulping liquor salts to produce white liquor of different sulfidities. Preferably, the white liquor is in the form of separate liquid streams, each of which is of a sulfidity that is different from the sulfidity of others of the streams. The method also provides for developing a white liquor stream which is essentially free of sulfide values, but which contains sodium hydroxide. Further, the method provides for recovery of titanium values for recycling.

Abstract: Unbleached pulp is washed with an aqueous alkaline solution in a wash press to substantially uniformly distribute a first amount of alkaline material throughout the pulp. The consistency of the pulp exiting the wash press is above about 18%, preferably between 25 to 35 percent by weight, and the high consistency alkali containing pulp is then treated with oxygen to effect delignification. The use of a wash press reduces the overall amounts of alkaline material utilized in the process compared to processes which add alkaline material to the pulp at low consistency. Additional alkali may be applied, if desired, onto the high consistency pulp prior to oxygen delignification to provide a total amount of between 0.8 and 7 percent by weight of oven dry pulp. High strength, low lignin pulps are formed after oxygen delignification which may be further bleached to high brightness with reduced amounts of bleaching chemicals.

Abstract: A process for cooking wood to pulp by contacting the wood with a deresinating agent containing fatty acid esters of polyoxyalkene glycols priors to cooking the wood with an alkaline liquor to simultaneously reduce pulp rejects and increase pulp yield.

Abstract: A process for the delignification of cellulose fiber plant raw material for the production of pulp using separate impregnating and delignifying stages, each using alcohol and alkali. The process may be carried out in batch or in a continuous process. Less alcohol is used in the delignification stage than in the delignification stage. The pulp produced has very good properties because different amounts of alcohol are being used in the impregnation stage and in the delignification stage.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for pulping of lignocellulosic materials. In the process, the ligoncellulose material is impregnated with an alkaline liquor. The lignocellulose material is maintained in the alkaline liquor for a period of time sufficient to permit infusion of the alkaline liquor and swelling of the lignocellulose material. The alkaline liquor is then drained from the lignocellulose material and the lignocellulose material may be washed with water, although such washing step is not required. The alkaline impregnated lignocellulose material is then immersed in an acidic oxidizing solution comprising peroxymonosulfate anion. The lignocellulose material is maintained in the oxidizing solution for a time sufficient to oxidize at least some of the lignin of the lignocellulose material. Thereafter, a second alkaline liquor is used to solubilize the oxidized lignin.

Abstract: A process for delignifying and bleaching a lignocellulosic pulp without the use of elemental chlorine or chlorine-containing compounds by oxygen delignifying the pulp to a K No. of about 14 or less and a viscosity of greater than about 10 cps and thereafter further delignifying the partially delignified pulp by lifting, displacing and tossing the pulp in a radial direction while advancing it in an axial direction in a plug flow-like manner with an effective amount of ozone for a sufficient time to obtain a substantially delignified pulp having a K No. of about 6 or less, a viscosity of at least about 7 cps and a GE brightness of at least about 35. The substantially delignified pulp may then be brightened to a final product having a GE brightness of at least about 75, or alternately up to about 83 or more by contacting the ozonated pulp with chlorine dioxide or a peroxide compound.

Abstract: Transition metals are removed from cellulose pulp and treatment fluids in a pulp mill. Medium consistency digested pulp is treated in an acidic stage, and then washed to produce a filtrate. The pH of at least a substantial part of the filtrate is adjusted so that it is greater than 9 (preferably greater than 10.5), while a sufficient carbonate content is provided to keep the calcium content low. Adjusting the pH causes dissolved transition metals in the filtrate to precipitate as solids, and the solids can then be filtered out, e.g. by precoat filtering, or clarification followed by polishing filtering. The greatly reduced transition metal content filtrate is then used elsewhere in the pulp mill, as in a washer following an oxygen delignification stage. The acidic stage may be an EDTA stage, an ozone stage, an acid only stage, etc., and the pulp is preferably treated so that it is bleached in at least one Z stage and one P stage, and preferably also an E (e.g. E.sub.op) stage.

Abstract: Chemicals are recovered during the production of cellulose pulp by forming two different sulfidity melts in two different sections of a soda recovery boiler, and then producing cooking liquors from different melts in dissolving tanks. The liquors may be causticized and/or oxidized, or may be utilized uncausticized. Uncausticized green liquor having a sulfidity of about 70-90% may be used early in a kraft cooking cycle, followed by treatment with low sulfidity oxidized and causticized white liquor. In the continuous digestion of cellulosic pulp, oxygen may be added to the recirculation loops below the black liquor withdrawal to enhance the alkalinity of the slurry and to assist in delignification. Oxidized cooking liquor with low sulfidity can be added to oxygen bleaching and alkali extraction stages downstream of the digester, and a portion of the high sulfidity cooking liquor can be used to produce acid used in an ozone bleaching stage.

Abstract: A process for the continuous mass-production of chemical pulp from cellulose raw materials without adversely affecting the environment involves digesting the cellulose raw materials at 130.degree. to 200.degree. C. with a cooking liquor containing an alkali, hydrogen peroxide, a chelating agent, an anthraquinone and water. A pulp waste liquor and unbleached pulp are obtained by subjecting the digested cellulose raw materials to solid-liquid separation. The pulp waste liquor is concentrated and burned to obtain an alkali metal carbonate. Calcium oxide is added, if necessary, to the aqueous solution of sodium or/and potassium carbonate for causticization, and hydrogen peroxide, a chelating agent, and an anthraquinone are added to the alkali solution to regenerate the cooking liquor.

Abstract: High-yield lignocellulosic wood pulps are bleached by (i) first pretreating such pulp with a complexing agent for metal ions and next washing the pretreated pulp, and then (ii) bleaching such pretreated/washed pulp with an initial amount of hydrogen peroxide in an alkaline medium, including adding a supplementary bleaching amount of hydrogen peroxide and a supplementary amount of an alkaline agent to the pulp over the course of the bleaching step (ii) without interrupting same, at a point in time when from 60% to 85% of the initial amount of hydrogen peroxide has been consumed, and such supplementary amount of hydrogen peroxide being equal to or less than the initial amount thereof.

Abstract: Preservatives and oil are extracted from treated wood. For this purpose, treated wood that is intended to be discarded is comminuted, the chips are impregnated with an alkaline solution until softening of the chips and modification of the chemical state of the products to be extracted. Possibly, the chips may be treated with saturated steam at a temperature between 170.degree. C. and 210.degree. C. followed by an explosive decompression giving wood fragments. This is followed by a refining operation in a crusher permitting the grinding of the wood. The result is a substantial release of the preservatives and oil from the wood chips which are at least partly disintegrated. The chemical preservatives and the oil are collected separately from the wood chips in the aqueous phases which are produced in the impregnation, steam cooking-explosive decompression and refining steps.

Abstract: A process is provided for peroxygen bleaching of high yield pulp in which sodium carbonate replaces sodium hydroxide and sodium silicate. The process employs a chelating agent as a substitute for the silicate normally required so that the process can operate as a closed cycle system.

Abstract: A method of digesting lignocellulose materials impregnated with solutions of hydroxides or salts of alkali or alkaline earth metals, the ratio by weight of the solution retained during the impregnation and the dry matter being less than 2, in a digester, characterized by subjecting the impregnated materials before the digestion to a treatment with live steam under a pressure equal to or greater than that present in the digester so that a part of the steam, by giving off its sensible heat to the impregnated material and condensing, assures the preheating and penetration of the impregnation liquor up to the center of the material. The time of digestion is shorter and the pulp obtained more homogeneous.

Abstract: High-yield lignocellulosic wood pulps are bleached by treating same with an effective bleaching amount of hydrogen peroxide in an alkaline treatment medium, including adjusting the alkalinity of such pulp by adding a supplementary amount of alkaline agent thereto at that point in time when the amount of hydrogen peroxide consumed ranges from 40% to 75% of the effective amount thereof.