Abstract: The accumulation of potassium values in a closed cycle pulp mill process usually using sodium hydroxide as a pulping chemical is prevented by removal of potassium values as potassium chloride by crystallization. A variety of procedures are described, including coprecipitation from white liquor with sodium chloride followed by separation of the codeposited salts, precipitation from white liquor separate from sodium chloride precipitation, and intermittent precipitation from green liquor with intermittent precipitation of sodium chloride from white liquor.

Abstract: A pulp mill bleach plant operation having a low effluent volume, a low consumption of water, energy and chemicals, and yet provides efficient bleaching, caustic extraction and washing is described. Water conservation is practised by controlling the use of wash water in the bleach plant, controlling the design and operation of washers, deckers and other mechanical devices used in the bleach plant and controlling the inflow of water with chemicals. An aqueous polluting effluent-free pulp mill water utilization system is also described.

Abstract: A pulp mill bleach plant operation having a low effluent volume, a low consumption of water, energy and chemicals, and yet provides efficient bleaching, caustic extraction and washing is described. Water conservation is practised by controlling the use of wash water in the bleach plant, controlling the design and operation of washers, deckers and other mechanical devices used in the bleach plant and controlling the inflow of water with chemicals. An aqueous polluting effluent-free pulp mill water utilization system is also described.

Abstract: Acid and alkaline filtrates are separated from the bleach plant of a bleached pulp mill for use in washing unbleached pulp free from entrained pulping liquor. Acid effluent is neutralized with sodium hydroxide solution prior to use in the washing as the last washing step while alkaline filtrate is used in the remainder of the washing. Part of both the acid and alkaline filtrates are not used in the washing to allow bleed of calcium value and caustic extraction stage solids which otherwise would build up on the washed pulp mat passing to the bleach plant.

Abstract: Sodium chloride is removed from Kraft mill smelts by fractionating the smelt to separate sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate in solid form from sodium sulphide and sodium chloride which usually is contaminated with residual quantities of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate and is contained in an aqueous solution thereof. Sodium chloride subsequently is separated from the aqueous solution. Various fractionation procedures are described and various procedures for the removal of the sodium chloride in substantially pure form also are described.

Abstract: Smelts produced in spent pulping liquor recovery operations and containing sodium chloride are treated to remove sodium chloride therefrom in pure form while the loss of usable components is avoided. A solid mixture of sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate is provided as such in a soda mill, or first is separated from sodium sulphide, by fractionating the smelt where sodium sulphide is present, as in the Kraft mill. The solid mixture is leached at a high temperature to remove all the sodium chloride values therefrom, along with part of the sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate. Pure sodium chloride is deposited by cooling the leach liquor and the mother liquor is recycled to the leaching step.

Abstract: In the recovery and regeneration of spent pulping chemicals from the production of cellulosic fibrous material pulp there is provided a white liquor containing dissolved quantities of sodium chloride and unregenerated pulping chemicals. The white liquor is concentrated by evaporation to deposit therefrom sodium chloride and unregenerated pulping chemicals, unregenerated pulping chemicals substantially free from sodium chloride are recovered from the deposited materials, and sodium chloride is separated and recovered from the deposited materials. The deposition of sodium chloride and unregenerated pulping chemicals is usually carried out in two stages, with unregenerated pulping chemicals substantially free from sodium chloride being deposited in the first stage. The sodium chloride then is deposited in the second stage, possibly in admixture with unregenerated pulping chemicals, in which event substantially pure sodium chloride is separated from the deposited mixture.

Abstract: Smelts produced in Kraft mill and soda mill spent pulping liquor recovery operations and containing sodium chloride are treated to remove sodium chloride therefrom in pure form while the removal of usable components is avoided. A solid mixture of sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate is provided in the case of the soda mill, or first is separated from the sodium sulphide in the case of the Kraft mill. Thereafter, the solid mixture is leached to remove the sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate while leaving the sodium chloride in a substantially pure form, the resulting leach liquor being refrigerated to deposit sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate. The mother liquor, after removal of the deposited salts is recycled to the solid mixture leaching step.