Abstract: Compositions and methods for minimizing fouling and/or reducing the viscosity of black liquor in a Kraft pulping process are provided. An exemplary composition includes an anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactant; an anionic sulfate or sulfonate dispersant; and a nonionic alkoxylated surfactant.

Abstract: A fast-hydrating polyacrylamide solid in the shape of microplates is provided and the process to make the microplates. The microplates can be treated with any processing and/or functional substances to facilitate the dissolution process or/and to import functional properties to the said solid.

Abstract: A method of increasing chemical efficiency of chemical additives in a papermaking system includes the steps of providing thick stock pulp comprising soluble lignin, process water, and at least about 2% by weight of cellulosic fiber based on total weight of thick stock pulp, and adding at least one organic polymer to the thick stock pulp to reduce the amount of soluble lignin therein. The organic polymer is chosen from cationic polymers, non-ionic polymers and combinations thereof.

Abstract: Industrial water such as in a geothermal unit is stabilized against silica polymerization and flocculation by using a combination of inhibitors including a nonionic polyether and a monomeric polycarboxylate.

Abstract: A strength additive composition for papermaking processes using high-kappa furnish is disclosed. The composition comprises an aqueous media and a glyoxalated polyacrylamide (gPAM) resin having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least about 5 MDa, a radius of gyration (Rg) of at least about 150 nm, and a structural density (Rg/Mw) of less than about 15 nm/Mda. A method of preparing the composition is also disclosed, and may be carried out in situ during a papermaking process (i.e., as an on-site method). A process of forming paper with the composition is also disclosed, and comprises combining the composition with an aqueous suspension of cellulosic fibers, forming the cellulosic fibers into a sheet, and drying the sheet to produce a paper.

Abstract: Provided are methods for the purification of polymer solutions. In particular, the method enables the separation of impurities from an oxazoline polymer solution by raising the temperature of the polymer solution above its lower critical solution temperature (LCST), wherein a water rich phase and a polymer rich phase separation occurs. The phases are then separated with the polymer rich phase containing a lower amount of impurities than before separation.

Abstract: In a geothermal plant, alternately injecting an acid composition and a caustic composition removes or inhibits scale build-up.

Abstract: The present disclosure generally relates to dewatering aqueous sludge that is produced by waste water or sewage treatment facilities such as from municipal and industrial processes. The method includes treating an aqueous sludge with a cationic polyacrylamide terpolymer that includes an acrylamide; a first cationic monomer and a second cationic monomer that is different from the first monomer, and dewatering the treated aqueous sludge.

Abstract: A method of enhancing adhesion of an image to at least one surface of a substrate is provided herein. The method includes treating at least a portion of the surface by applying a composition comprising one or more polymers to the portion of the surface. The method further includes drying the composition after applying the composition to the substrate to form a treated substrate. The method further includes printing an image from an electrophotographic printer utilizing liquid toner technology on the treated substrate. The substrate is treated and dried less than about 5 minutes prior to being printed.

Abstract: Methods for producing paper or cardboard are provided that comprise the steps (A) adding a final polymer A to a first aqueous fibrous material suspension, whereby a second aqueous fibrous material suspension containing final polymer A is created, wherein the final polymer A is obtainable by radical polymerisation of the monomers (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), and (v) as described herein in the amounts provided herein; and hydrolysing the starting polymer V in order to obtain the final polymer A, (B) dewatering the second aqueous fibrous material suspension containing final polymer A on a water-permeable substrate to form a wet paper structure, (C) dewatering the wet paper structure, whereby the paper or the cardboard is formed.

Abstract: Methods of analyzing a sheet of paper, and methods of preparing paper are provided. In an exemplary embodiment, a method for preparing paper includes applying a paper additive to a first sheet of paper using an initial production technique. The first sheet of paper is sectioned into a first section and a second section, where the first sheet of paper has a top surface defined in an X-Y plane, where a Z axis is perpendicular to the X-Y plane, and where the first and second sections are defined at different positions along the Z axis. A paper additive concentration is measured in the first and second sections, and the initial production technique is adjusted to a subsequent production technique to influence a paper additive concentration profile along the Z axis.

Abstract: Methods for manufacturing sized paper products are provided. An exemplary method includes producing a foam of water, air, a foaming agent, and a sizing agent. Further, the exemplary method includes applying the foam to a web and processing the web to form the product.

Abstract: Provided is a method of dewatering aqueous sludge that is produced by waste water or sewage treatment facilities, such as from industrial and municipal processes. The method includes treating an aqueous sludge with an associative and branching or cross-linked inverse emulsion cationic polymer, wherein the associative properties of the cationic polymer are provided by an emulsification surfactant(s) chosen from diblock and triblock polymeric surfactants and/or cross-linking agents.

Abstract: A composition for improving softness of tissue and/or towel products includes lignocellulosic fibers; water; and a hydrophobic softener that includes the reaction product of: (1) at least one di- and/or poly-amine, (2) at least one chain extender having at least two carboxyl groups; and (3) at least one hydrophobic end-capper. The reaction product comprises a hydrophobic substitution of at least about 25 mole percent of the hydrophobic end-capper based on a total number of moles of active amine sites of the reaction product. In addition, a method of improving softness of tissue and/or towel products includes combining the lignocellulosic fibers, the water, and the hydrophobic softener; and creating the tissue and/or towel products.

Abstract: A drainage-optimized additive composition for papermaking is disclosed. The composition comprises an aqueous media and a glyoxalated polyacrylamide (gPAM) resin having a weight average molecular weight (Mw) of at least about 5 MDa. The composition comprises from about 1.95 to about 2.45 wt. % of the gPAM resin. A method of preparing the composition is also disclosed, and comprises preparing a cationic acrylamide (cAM) prepolymer having at least one predetermined property, and selectively glyoxalating the cAM prepolymer by controlling the concentration of the cAM prepolymer in the aqueous media during glyoxalation in relation to the predetermined property. The method may be carried out in situ during a papermaking process (i.e., as an on-site method). A process of forming paper with the composition also disclosed, and comprises combining the composition with the aqueous suspension of cellulosic fibers, forming the cellulosic fibers into a sheet, and drying the sheet to produce a paper.

Abstract: A scale inhibitor composition for reducing calcium scale under stressed conditions is disclosed. The composition comprises an aqueous polymerization reaction product of an acrylic acid and a chain transfer agent, the reaction product comprising a low-molecular weight acrylic acid polymer having a weight averaged molecular weight (Mw) of from about 1,300 to about 15,000 Daltons. A method of preparing the scale inhibitor composition is also disclosed, and comprises reacting the acrylic acid and the chain transfer agent to give the reaction product comprising the acrylic acid polymer. A process for ameliorating calcite scale in a mining operation is further disclosed. The process comprises adding the scale inhibitor composition to process water comprising at least one stressed scaling condition.

Abstract: A method of controlling volatile fatty acid (VFA) content in a pulp, paper, and/or board making processes is disclosed. The method may be used to provide process improvements in the form of reduced microbial contamination and odor, reduced starch degradation, optimized retention, and improved runability. The method includes treating a process flow comprising a cellulosic material comprising a starch with a VFA control agent. The VFA control agent is non-biocidal, comprises a surfactant or dispersant, a chelator or sequestrant, or a combination thereof, is capable of inhibiting amylase activity in the process flow, and is utilized in an amount sufficient to inhibit microbiological production of one or more VFA. The method optionally includes treating the process flow with a biocidal agent in combination with the VFA control agent.

Abstract: High molecular weight ethylene (meth)acrylic acid (EAA) dispersions and methods for producing the same are provided. An exemplary method for producing a high molecular weight ethylene (meth)acrylic acid (EAA) dispersion includes mixing an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid (EAA) copolymer, having a mass flow index (MFI) of no greater than about 300 g/10 min at 190° C. and 2.16 kg, and a base at a temperature of at least about 100° C. to form a molten phase in which the EAA copolymer is relaxed by the base. The exemplary method further includes mixing water with the molten phase at least until the molten phase disperses into the water to form the high molecular weight EAA dispersion.

Abstract: A method for preparing an adhesive resin for use in a coating composition for a crepe paper manufacturing process that includes the steps of reacting a polycarboxylic acid or a derivative of a polycarboxylic acid with a polyamine to form a polyamidoamine intermediate; reacting a polyetheramine with an epihalohydrin to form a polyetheramine-epihalohydrin intermediate and reacting the polyamidoamine intermediate with the polyetheramine-epihalohydrin intermediate to form a polyamidoamine polyetheramine-epihalohydrin resin.

Abstract: A method for producing dried multilayer paper is provided comprising dewatering a first aqueous fibrous suspension, thereby creating a first fibrous web; dewatering a second aqueous fibrous suspension, thereby creating a second fibrous web; spraying one or more of a first fibrous web and a second fibrous web with a spray solution or spray suspension, thereby producing at least one sprayed fibrous web; assembling the first fibrous web with the second fibrous web; dehydrating the resulting layer compound by pressing; then dehydrating by supplying heat, which creates the dried multilayer paper. The spray solution or spray suspension contains water and at least one water-soluble polymer P. The polymer P is obtained by polymerizing: 40 to 85 mol % of a monomer of Formula I in which R1=H or C1-C6-Alkyl; and 15 to 60 mol % of one or more ethylenically unsaturated monomers.