Abstract: A method of digesting lignocellulosic material includes the steps of providing the lignocellulosic material and a caustic composition having a pH of at least about 10. The caustic composition includes water, an alkaline- or alkaline earth-metal hydroxide, and up to about 1 percent by weight based on a total weight of the composition of a branched digestion additive. The branched digestion additive has the structure: wherein A is at least one alkyleneoxy group and each alkyleneoxy group has from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, B is a branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 15 carbon atoms, X is H or B-0-(A)m, and each m is independently an average value from 3 to 30, and wherein the caustic composition has a Draves Wetting Time of less than 100 seconds as determined using ASTM D2281.

Abstract: A method of digesting lignocellulosic material includes the steps of providing the lignocellulosic material and a caustic composition having a pH of at least about 10. The caustic composition includes water, an alkaline- or alkaline earth-metal hydroxide, and up to about 1 percent by weight based on a total weight of the composition of a branched digestion additive. The branched digestion additive has the structure: wherein A is at least one alkyleneoxy group and each alkyleneoxy group has from 2 to 4 carbon atoms, n is 0 or 1, B is a branched aliphatic hydrocarbon group having from 8 to 15 carbon atoms, X is H or B-0-(A)m, and each m is independently an average value from 3 to 30, and wherein the caustic composition has a Draves Wetting Time of less than 100 seconds as determined using ASTM D2281.

Abstract: A method for making an opacity relevant grade paper or paperboard product, such as a communication type paper used for printing and writing applications, utilizes an effective amount of quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compounds as an opacification aid to control the optical properties of the paper or paperboard product as a wet-end additive to a papermaking operation. Using the quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compound can improve the opacity of the paper or paperboard product, maintain the opacity of the paper while reducing the use of other opacification aids, such as inorganic fillers and/or pigments, and allow for a reduction in paper grammage without a compromise in opacity. The improvements in paper optical properties are achieved without adversely affecting other characteristics of the paper product such as bulk value, tensile strength, tear index, and the like.

Abstract: A method for making an opacity relevant grade paper or paperboard product, such as a communication type paper used for printing and writing applications, utilizes an effective amount of quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compounds as an opacification aid to control the optical properties of the paper or paperboard product as a wet-end additive to a papermaking operation. Using the quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compound can improve the opacity of the paper or paperboard product, maintain the opacity of the paper while reducing the use of other opacification aids, such as inorganic fillers and/or pigments, and allow for a reduction in paper grammage without a compromise in opacity. The improvements in paper optical properties are achieved without adversely affecting other characteristics of the paper product such as bulk value, tensile strength, tear index, and the like.

Abstract: A method for making an opacity relevant grade paper or paperboard product, such as a communication type paper used for printing and writing applications, utilizes an effective amount of quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compounds as an opacification aid to control the optical properties of the paper or paperboard product as a wet-end additive to a papermaking operation. Using the quaternized alkanolamine fatty acid ester compound can improve the opacity of the paper or paperboard product, maintain the opacity of the paper while reducing the use of other opacification aids, such as inorganic fillers and/or pigments, and allow for a reduction in paper grammage without a compromise in opacity. The improvements in paper optical properties are achieved without adversely affecting other characteristics of the paper product such as bulk value, tensile strength, tear index, and the like.

Abstract: The present invention involves new anti-foam compositions which control foaming in aqueous systems and by nature of their inverse cloud point characterisitics are insoluble and particulate above their inverse cloud point, and soluble below it. This property makes them particulate non-depositing defoamers. As the defoamed aqueous system cools down these novel products become soluble, preventing insoluble material (pitch) from depositing on process equipment and matter being processed. The anitfoam composition is an alkoxylated bis-amide of the following formula: ##STR1## where R.sup.1 is ##STR2## R.sup.2 is --(CH.sub.2).sub.a --; R.sup.3 is alkyl C.sub.12 to C.sub.20 ; ##STR3## x,y,z are each independently integers from 0 to 20; a is an integer from 1 to 5;c is an integer from 0 to 5;R.sup.5 is selected from H, CH.sub.3, C.sub.2 H.sub.5, C.sub.3 H.sub.6.

Abstract: The present invention involves new anti-foam compositions which control foaming in aqueous systems and by nature of their unique cloud point characteristics are insoluble and particulate above their inverse cloud point, and soluble below it. This property makes them particulate non-depositing defoamers. As the defoamed aqueous system cools down these novel products become soluble, preventing insoluble material (pitch) from depositing on process equipment and matter being processed.

Abstract: The present invention involves new anti-foam compositions which control foaming in aqueous systems and by nature of their unique cloud point characteristics are insoluble and particulate above their inverse cloud point, and soluble below it. This property makes them non-depositing defoamers. As the defoamed aqueous system cools down these novel products become soluble, preventing insoluble material (pitch) from depositing on process equipment and matter being processed.