Abstract: The specification discloses making a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system culture adapted to biodegradation of spent sulfite liquor (SSL) comprising the steps of exposing a mixed culture system (being a sludge from a sewage treatment plant) to increasing concentration of SSL until the fungus becomes acclimatized to SSL of the desired concentration. The resulting biotic population comprises a fungal mixture, of yeast and yeast-like cultures. It was based on an autolytic culture system: Phialophora jeanselmei, Phialophora richardsiae, Hyalodendron lignicola, Trichosporon infestans and Candida tropicalis. A method and apparatus are disclosed for biodegrading both the soluble substrates in a spent sulfite liquor and the biological solids produced therefrom by a potentially autolytic culture system.

Abstract: The specification discloses making a mixed fungal (yeast and yeast-like) system culture adapted to biodegradation of spent sulfite liquor (SSL) comprising the steps of exposing a mixed culture system (being a sludge from a sewage treatment plant) to increasing concentration of SSL until the fungus becomes acclimatized to SSL of the desired concentration. The resulting biotic population comprises a fungal mixture, of yeast and yeast-like cultures. It was based on an autolytic culture system: Phialophora jeanselmei, Phialophora richardsiae, Hyalodendron liqnicola, Trichosporon infestans and Candida tropicalis. A method and apparatus are disclosed for biodegrading both the soluble substrates in a spent sulfite liquor and the biological solids produced therefrom by a potentially autolytic culture system.

Abstract: This relates to the manufacture of wet process hardboard. The invention involves supplying additional heat curable resin to the mid-thickness regions of the panel by injecting additional resin into the moving mat as it is being formed on a forming surface. The region of injection of the resin is selected so that the bottom of the partially formed mat is sufficiently consolidated to resist the passage of resin therethrough while at the same time the top of the mat is still sufficiently liquid so that disturbances of the fibers of the partially dewatered mat caused by the injection of the resin have an opportunity to mend. The resin may be injected into the longitudinal marginal portions of the mat in continuous fashion such that, after the edges of the final board product have been trimmed, the resin treated areas are exposed to view. The additional resin reinforces the edge portions and assists in providing uniform caliper of the board across its width.

Abstract: Pressed fiberboard is produced in an S-1-S type process at much shorter than normal (prior art) press cycles. The process includes the use of fiber furnish having preselected shrinkage characteristics. This furnish is wet formed into a mat either with or without a paper overlay, which overlay may be decorated or undecorated, depending on the desired end use and pressed wet as in the S-1-S process, using control means, such as stop bars in the hot press, to limit the final separation distance between the hot plates in each press opening to provide full caliper reduced density board. By using a fiber furnish having selected shrinkage characteristics it has been found that the pressed board can be safely removed from the press in a semi-cured, moist condition, at unusually short press cycles. The use of said fiber furnish also permits the use of higher than normal (prior art) press temperatures without incurring discloration of the paper overlays.

Abstract: Hardboard is produced by a process wherein wood solubles or sugars released principally during the pulp preparation stage are retained in a closed water system by collecting the process waters released during mechanical dewatering of the pulp to form a mat and returning such water to the system. The mat is dried by thermal evaporation with substantial quantities of sugars being deposited on the mat surfaces as a result. The mat is then pressed under conditions such as to cause flowing and caramelization of the surface sugars thus forming a crust or skin of the sugars on the mat surfaces, which sugars improve the board surface characteristics. A paper overlay may be applied to the mat prior to pressing and bonded thereto by the sugars to provide a paper overlaid hardboard.

Abstract: A method of humidifying a panel of cellulosic material, at least one side of which has a surface through which the panel can absorb water. A liquid humidifying agent is applied to the panel surface which wets the surface of the panel, which is soluble in water, and which reduces the surface tension of the water. Water is also applied to the panel to cause the water to follow the humidifying agent into the panel to increase its moisture content to a desired value.