Abstract: A process for evaporating a portion of a colloidal solution, said process including: a) passing a colloidal solution, said colloidal solution including particles in a liquid medium, wherein at least a portion of said liquid medium includes at least one volatile component, through one or more orifices into an evaporation zone that has at least one inner surface, wherein said colloidal solution does not substantially contact said at least one inner surface of said evaporation zone as said colloidal solution is passed through said evaporation zone; b) applying pressure in said evaporation zone that is lower than the vapor pressure of said colloidal solution as it is passed into said evaporation zone, allowing for flash evaporation of at least a portion of said at least one volatile component from said colloidal solution; c) adjusting the pressure in said evaporation zone to evaporate an amount of said at least one volatile component from said colloidal solution; and d) collecting the remaining colloidal solution

Abstract: Described is a process for evaporating a portion of a colloidal solution, said process comprising: a) passing a colloidal solution, said colloidal solution comprising particles in a liquid medium, wherein at least a portion of said liquid medium comprises at least one volatile component, through one or more orifices into an evaporation zone that has at least one inner surface, wherein said colloidal solution does not substantially contact said at least one inner surface of said evaporation zone as said colloidal solution is passed through said evaporation zone; b) applying pressure in said evaporation zone that is lower than the vapor pressure of said colloidal solution as it is passed into said evaporation zone, allowing for flash evaporation of at least a portion of said at least one volatile component from said colloidal solution; c) adjusting the pressure in said evaporation zone to evaporate an amount of said at least one volatile component from said colloidal solution; and d) collecting the remaining co

Abstract: Described is a process for concentrating weak black liquor to form strong black liquor, said process comprising: a) preconcentrating said weak black liquor; b) heating said preconcentrated weak black liquor in a heating zone under sufficient pressure to prevent said preconcentrated weak black liquor from boiling in said heating zone; c) passing said preconcentrated weak black liquor, having at least one volatile component, into an evaporation zone through one or more orifices; d) applying pressure in said evaporation zone that is lower than the vapor pressure of said preconcentrated weak black liquor as it is passed into said evaporation zone, which allows for flash evaporation of at least a portion of said at least one volatile component of said preconcentrated weak black liquor from said preconcentrated weak black liquor to form strong black liquor; e) adjusting heat in said heating zone.