Abstract: A test method for analyzing an OCC fiber pulp, to quantify the content therein of contaminants creating bleed-throughs in a paper product formed from the pulp. A sample of the pulp is formed into a sheet, and bleed-throughs are created from the contaminants therein by hot-pressing the sheet. A dye is applied to the sheet, to enhance contrast between areas of the sheet having bleed-throughs and areas of the sheet not having bleed-throughs. The contrasted sheet is analyzed to determine the quantity of contaminants that create bleed-throughs.

Abstract: A test method for analyzing an OCC fiber pulp, to quantify the content therein of contaminants creating bleed-throughs in a paper product formed from the pulp. A sample of the pulp is formed into a sheet, and bleed-throughs are created from the contaminants therein by hot-pressing the sheet. A dye is applied to the sheet, to enhance contrast between areas of the sheet having bleed-throughs and areas of the sheet not having bleed-throughs. The contrasted sheet is analyzed to determine the quantity of contaminants that create bleed-throughs.

Abstract: A fiber loading apparatus continuously loads fibers in a fiber suspension with a chemical compound. A pulper has an inner chamber, a shear imparting device within the inner chamber, an inlet and an outlet. The pulper inlet receives a fiber suspension at a consistency of between 20 and 30%. The shear imparting device, which may be configured as a rotor, imparts high shear forces to the fiber suspension. A fluffer includes an inner chamber, an inlet and an outlet. The fluffer inlet is connected with the pulper outlet. A reactor includes an inner chamber, an inlet and an outlet. The reactor inlet is connected with the fluffer outlet. A gas supply is connected with the fluffer inner chamber and/or reactor inner chamber. The gas supply supplies and pressurizes the fluffer inner chamber and/or reactor inner chamber with a gas, such as carbon dioxide or ozone, acting as a reactant for the chemical compound to be loaded into fibers of the fiber suspension.

Abstract: A pulper for pulping a fiber source includes a tank and a rotor. The tank has a plurality of annular-shaped inner walls defining a chamber. The plurality of walls include a first wall, second wall, third wall and forth wall which are sequentially vertically adjoining relative to each other. Each of the walls are disposed at an angle relative to a vertical reference. The first wall is disposed at an angle of between 45 and 70° relative to the vertical reference. The second wall is disposed at an angle of between 20 and 45° relative to the vertical reference. The third wall is disposed generally parallel to the vertical reference. The forth wall is disposed at an angle of between 10 and 30° relative to the vertical reference. The tank further includes two baffles within the chamber which inhibit rotational movement of the fiber source within the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously loading fibers in a fiber suspension with a chemical compound includes a deflocculating vessel having an interior chamber, a fluid inlet connected with the interior chamber, a fluid outlet connected with the interior chamber, and a high shear imparting device disposed within the interior chamber for imparting high shear forces to and thereby deflocculating the fiber suspension. A mixing container has an interior compartment, a fluid inlet connected with both the interior compartment and the fluid outlet of the deflocculating vessel, a fluid outlet connected with the interior compartment, and a low shear imparting device within the interior compartment for imparting low shear forces to the fiber suspension. A gas supply is connected with the interior chamber of the deflocculating vessel and/or the interior compartment of the mixing container. The gas supply is configured for supplying a gas to and pressurizing each of the deflocculating vessel and the mixing container.

Abstract: A pulper for pulping a fiber source includes a tank and a rotor. The tank has a plurality of annular-shaped inner walls defining a chamber. The plurality of walls include a first wall, second wall, third wall and forth wall which are sequentially vertically adjoining relative to each other. Each of the walls are disposed at an angle relative to a vertical reference. The first wall is disposed at an angle of between 45 and 70° relative to the vertical reference. The second wall is disposed at an angle of between 20 and 45° relative to the vertical reference. The third wall is disposed generally parallel to the vertical reference. The forth wall is disposed at an angle of between 10 and 30° relative to the vertical reference. The tank further includes two baffles within the chamber which inhibit rotational movement of the fiber source within the chamber.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuously loading fibers in a fiber suspension with a chemical compound includes a deflocculating vessel having an interior chamber, a fluid inlet connected with the interior chamber, a fluid outlet connected with the interior chamber, and a high shear imparting device disposed within the interior chamber for imparting high shear forces to and thereby deflocculating the fiber suspension. A mixing container has an interior compartment, a fluid inlet connected with both the interior compartment and the fluid outlet of the deflocculating vessel, a fluid outlet connected with the interior compartment, and a low shear imparting device within the interior compartment for imparting low shear forces to the fiber suspension. A gas supply is connected with the interior chamber of the deflocculating vessel and/or the interior compartment of the mixing container. The gas supply is configured for supplying a gas to and pressurizing each of the deflocculating vessel and the mixing container.

Abstract: A system for removing bleed-through contaminants from OCC fiber pulp includes a plurality of primary flotation cells, with each primary flotation cell having an inlet, an accept outlet and a reject outlet. The inlet and the accept outlets of the plurality of primary flotation cells are coupled together in a series configuration. The reject outlets are coupled together in parallel. A secondary flotation cell has an inlet, at least one accept outlet and a reject outlet. The secondary flotation cell inlet is fluidly coupled with the reject outlet of the primary flotation cells. A water clarifier has an inlet, a clarified water outlet and a sludge outlet. The inlet is connected with the reject outlet of the secondary flotation cell.

Abstract: A flotation machine is provided which includes at least one flotation cell having an inner chamber. The fiber suspension is transported into the inner chamber, and a gas is injected into the fiber suspension within the inner chamber at a temperature above 100° C. to decrease the density of the wax within the fiber suspension. The wax is removed from the fiber suspension.

Abstract: A flotation machine is provided which includes at least one flotation cell having an inner chamber. The fiber suspension is transported into the inner chamber, and a gas is injected into the fiber suspension within the inner chamber at a temperature below 20° C. to cause the wax to clump within the fiber suspension. The clumped wax is removed from the fiber suspension.

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: An apparatus providing process water used for making or processing a fiber suspension includes a multi-compartment tank with a top, a bottom wall, and a plurality of exterior sidewalls. Each compartment has an inlet positioned near the top, an outlet positioned near the bottom wall, and at least one intervening wall common with an adjacent compartment. Each intervening wall has a height defining an overflow weir whereby the compartments are arranged with sequentially decreasing maximum fluid levels. Each intervening wall also has a backflow device positioned near the bottom wall. The backflow device is selectively openable to allow flow from one compartment to an adjacent compartment in a direction opposite to a flow direction over the corresponding overflow weir.