Abstract: A system is provided for feeding wood or annual plant chips to continuous digesters for producing paper pulp. The system comprises two stages: in a first, impregnation stage, the chips are impregnated with a sufficient amount of chemical reagents to allow them to be hot-digested by impregnation in alkaline or alkaline-earth solutions, then drained. In the case of annual plants, the plants are mechanically mixed with alkaline and/or alkaline-earth reagents and a minimal quantity of hot water to obtain a wet fiber-like mixture. In the second stage, the material impregnated above is pumped directly into a pressurized digester (1) by a hydraulic piston pump (2). A plug (4) formed in the pipe (3) between the pump and the digester provides the required seal and pressure resistance.

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: A process for preparing a cellulose paste by treatment of lignocellulose materials which comprises impregnating wood or vegetable shavings in divided form with an aqueous solution containing 2 to 20% by weight of alkaline metal hydroxides, alkali metal salts, or alkaline earth metal hydroxides, adjusting the weight of the solution retained by impregnation to a value representing 1 to 3 times the weight of treated material, the ratio of the weight of the impregnated mass to the dry weight of the lignocellulosic material being preferably not more than about 2.6:1, subjecting the impregnated masses to cooking treatment by exclusively indirect heating at a temperature varying from 150.degree. to 200.degree. C. without exerting any mechanical disintegrating action for a period varying from 15 to 60 minutes, and pressing the cooked product so as to extract therefrom the solubilized lignin in the form of a black liquor containing about 50% of dry material.