Abstract: An acetyl xylan esterase variant having perhydrolytic activity is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters and a source of peroxygen. More specifically, a Thermotoga maritime acetyl xylan esterase gene was modified using error-prone PCR and site-directed mutagenesis to create an enzyme catalyst characterized by an increase in the ratio of peracetic acid formation to peracetic acid hydrolysis specific activities (PAAF/PAAH ratio). The variant acetyl xylan esterase may be used to produce peroxycarboxylic acids suitable for use in a variety of applications such as cleaning, disinfecting, sanitizing, bleaching, wood pulp processing, and paper pulp processing applications.

Abstract: Process for the bleaching of paper pulp in which an aqueous suspension of paper pulp is subjected to a bleaching treatment with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of magnesium hydroxide and of at least one poly-?-hydroxyacrylic acid, its salt or their mixture.

Abstract: The invention relates to a layered double hydroxide comprising a charge-balancing organic anion, wherein the charge-balancing anion is a monovalent anion comprising at least one hydroxyl group, and which comprises less than 20 wt % boehmite. Claimed are also an aqueous slurry, a water borne coating, a composite material and a master batch comprising the said layered double hydroxide as well as the use of the said layered double hydroxide in paper making processes and as stain blocking agent in water borne coating applications.

Abstract: The present invention aims to provide a process for producing cellulose nanofibers using a 4-hydroxy TEMPO derivative less expensive than TEMPO and a process capable of rapidly producing homogeneous cellulose nanofibers.

Abstract: A process for the bleaching of wood pulp using one or more peroxide oxidising agents wherein the process includes treatment of the pulp with a mixture of chelating agents comprising: (a) a first chelating agent selected from the group consisting of: ethylenediamine N,N-disuccinic acid, methylglycinediacetic acid, glutamic acid N,N-diacetic acid, imino disuccinic acid and anions and mixtures thereof; and (b) a second chelating agent selected from the group consisting of: diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, diethylenetriamine penta methylene phosphonic acid and anions and mixtures thereof.

Abstract: The invention provides a composition of matter and a method, which enhance the process of mechanically pulping paper precursors. The composition of matter includes a small quantity of a reducing agent and a source of alkali. When added to the pulped material, e.g., wood chips, before or during mechanical pulping, the composition reduces the energy cost of the operation. In addition, not only does the composition also does not reduce the brightness of pulp, the composition can also enhance the effectiveness of subsequent bleaching processes.

Abstract: The present invention provides a salt of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid comprising at least 1.6 mole of alkaline earth metal per mole of ethylenediamine disuccinic acid. Salts of the invention have been found to be useful in providing compositions comprising hydrogen peroxide having improved stability.

Abstract: A process for the bleaching of mechanical paper pulp with one or more peroxide oxidizing agents, in which the pulp is pretreated in a pretreatment step with one or more chelating agents chosen from aspartic acid and its derivatives, substituted on the nitrogen atom, characterized in that the initial pH of the pretreatment step, just before adding the one or more chelating agents, is above 8.

Abstract: A method of extracting hemp fibers from decorticated hemp bast skin involves pre-treating the decorticated hemp bast skin with an aqueous solution containing di-sodium citrate, tri-sodium citrate or a mixture thereof having a pH of from about 6-13 at temperature of about 90° C. or less; and subsequently treating recovered fiber with a enzyme. Determining the extent of completion of a plant fiber degumming process involves treating degummed fiber with a recombinant pectinase expressed in an organism that produces neither cellulose nor xylanase, to release reducing sugar from any residua pectin on the degummed fiber, and, quantifying the released reducing sugar.

Abstract: The invention relates to a stabilizing composition comprising following components (A) a polymer having following formula wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is —COOM or —CH2COOM, M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, an ammonium ion or a mixture thereof, n, m and k are molar ratios of corresponding monomers, wherein n is 0 to 0.95, m is 0.05 to 0.9, and k is 0 to 0.8, and (n+m+k) equals 1, and the weight average molecular weight is between 500 and 20,000,000 g/mol, (B) a chelating agent, (C) a poly-alpha-hydroxyacrylic acid or an alkaline salt thereof or the corresponding polylactone thereof, and (D) optionally a polycarboxylic acid polymer or an alkaline salt thereof. The invention also relates to a process for the treatment of a fiber material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a polymer composition for peroxide bleaching of a cellulosic fibre material, said composition being in the form of a stable aqueous polymer solution obtained by bringing in an aqueous medium a first polymer (A) comprising a partly or totally acidic homopolymer of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid or maleic acid, or a copolymer of acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid with an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, into contact with a second polymer (B) comprising a polylactone of a poly-alfa-hydroxyacrylic acid in solid form or as a moist powder or as a slurry, said polymer solution having a pH of at most 5. The invention also relates to peroxide bleaching processes.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a class of polyesters that are lightly crosslinked polyesters made by reacting alkoxyglyceryl units (linked by the reaction of their hydroxyl groups) to the carboxyl group of dimer acid. The polymers and a contribute softness, lubricity and antistatic properties when applied to hair, skin, textile fiber and paper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for increasing bulk of a fiber product, in which process a fiber pulp, and further a fiber product, is formed. In accordance with the invention, in a first step a carbonate compound is added to the fiber pulp as a basic component, and in a second step acid is added as an acidic component, in order to form salt, to provide the formation of small-bubbled gas, and to increase the bulk, and the fiber pulp is dehydrated. The invention also relates to a corresponding fiber product and to the use thereof.

Abstract: A composition comprising a compound of formula (I) or (II): (A)w-P(O)(O?M+)3-w ??(I) or wherein A is Rf—(CH2)k?[(CF2CF)y—(CH2CH2)z]mO and contains from about 8 to about 22 carbon atoms; Rf is CnF2n+1; n and k are each independently 1 to about 6; y, z, and m are each independently 1, 2, 3, or mixture thereof; w is 1 or 2 or a mixture thereof; and M is hydrogen, ammonium ion, an alkali metal ion, or an alkanolammonium ion.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing a pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material or source using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid derivatives, particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase. Once treated, the material may be refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product and the production of the product is accompanied by strength increases in paper made from the pulp and energy savings in making the pulp, hi addition the treatment or pretreatment produces a soluble carbohydrate source and other components (e.g. acetic acid, other wood components) for further product development. In certain cases a pulp product is not produced and all of the carbohydrate present in the lignocellulose is converted into soluble sugars.

Abstract: Bleached and unbleached pulps are treated with an enzyme in one or more stages of the bleaching process to yield a low DP pulp suitable for lyocell manufacture. This allows higher throughput of fiber an economy of manufacture.

Abstract: High absorbency lyocell fibers are obtainable by hydrothermal treatment. The fibers can be treated with water at temperatures of at least 60° C. to provide lyocell fibers that can be formed into a random fibrous plug having a mass of 2 g, a density of 0.4 g/cm3, and a diameter of 25 mm which has a GAT Absorbency (at 15 min.) of at least about 3.7 g/g.

Abstract: A method of producing hardwood pulp is provided. This method comprises treating hardwood chips with one or more than one Family 11 xylanase enzyme in the absence of adding an oxidizing enzyme for about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes, to produce a treated chip mixture. The treated chip mixture is then mechanically refined to produce the hardwood pulp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for manufacturing liquid packaging board, in which process a board pulp is treated with a percarboxylic acid by adding to the pulp percarboxylic acid in an amount of 0.5-5 kg/ton of dry pulp, indicated as a 100 percent percarboxylic acid, whereafter, or simultaneously with the percarboxylic acid treatment, sizing is carried out with a combination of a resin size and a neutral size, which is followed by board forming. The manufactured board has good resistance to liquid penetration.

Abstract: A method for pulping a fibrous lignocellulosic material includes a pretreatment step wherein the lignocellulosic material is reacted with a chelating agent selected from the group consisting of amino acids, monocarboxylic acids and polycarboxylic acids preferably having from two to six carbon atoms. The chelating agent reacts with calcium ions in the material to form stable, water-soluble calcium complexes so as to avoid scaling, and the treated material requires a significantly lower energy input to undergo refining using either a mechanical or thermomechanical pulping method.

Abstract: The method is for pre-treatment of chips that are fed to a sulphate cooking process. Through acidification of the chips in an acidic treatment fluid with a subsequent draining of free treatment fluid before subsequent steaming or wet-steaming, a high concentration of free hydrogen ions is established within the chip pieces. When the chips are subsequently formed into slurry with preferably a sulphide-rich alkali cooking fluid, H2S is formed locally in the chip pieces which gives a yield-increasing effect in the subsequent cooking step of 1-3%.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for producing an MDF board from pulp from a fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment or pretreatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives (particularly dialkyl ester derivatives, particularly in the vapor phase). The treated wood is then subjected to a sugar extraction wash and refined using any one of the several pulping methods to produce a final pulp product. Once this is done the pulp is used to make MDF boards having improved water repellency properties.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a stabilizing composition comprising following components (A) a polymer having following formula wherein R1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, R2 is —COOM or —CH2COOM, M is a hydrogen atom, an alkali metal ion, an alkaline earth metal ion, an ammonium ion or a mixture thereof, n, m and k are molar ratios of corresponding monomers, wherein n is 0 to 0.95, m is 0.05 to 0.9, and k is 0 to 0.8, and (n+m+k) equals 1, and the weight average molecular weight is between 500 and 20,000,000 g/mol, (B) a chelating agent, and (C) an alkaline earth metal compound. The invention also relates to a process for the treatment of a fibre material.

Abstract: This invention is directed to fabric finishes or treatment preparations for nylon, polyester, and other textile and fibrous substrate materials that will render them hydrophilic. The finishes of the invention are comprised primarily of polymers that contain carboxyl groups, salts of carboxyl groups, or moieties that can be converted to carboxyl groups by some chemical reaction.

Abstract: A method for producing paper pulp from a lignocellulosie vegetable raw material. The method includes contacting the raw material with a mixture of formic acid and acetic acid (in an amount more than 5 wt. % of the mixture) at a temperature and for a suitable reaction time, the whole being performed at room temperature. The paper pulp is separated from the organic phase and optionally bleached with ozone. The organic phase is treated to enable the recycling of the formic and acetic acids and the extraction of lignins, sugars and excess acetic acid.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to aqueous dispersions of one or more optical brightening agent (OBA) which do not need dispersants or other stabilizing additives in order to avoid sedimentation during storage. The optical brighteners are sulfonated triazinylaminostilbene compounds which have excellent properties for whitening of paper and other cellulosic substrates.

Abstract: A novel method for the production of light-stable and process-stable lignocellulosic materials, in particular, the production of mechanical wood pulps with much improved light and process stability is described, as well as the resulting pulps of improved light and process stability and papers containing such pulps. The novel method involves the reaction of lignocellulosic materials such as bleached chemithermomechanical pulps (BCTMP) with (a) a water-soluble, fibre-reactive yellowing inhibitor possessing two or more secondary amino or ammonium (—NHR? or —HN+HR?), tertiary amino or ammonium (—NR?R? or —HN+R?R?), and/or quaternary ammonium (—N+R?R?R??) functional groups in an aqueous medium, or (b) a water-soluble, fibre-reactive hindered amine light stabilizer possessing said amino or ammonium functional groups in an alkaline peroxide bleaching medium or in an aqueous medium with a subsequent bleaching of the materials in an alkaline peroxide bleaching medium.

Abstract: This invention provides a composition and method for improving a mechanical pulping process by decreasing freeness and amount of shives, providing energy and chemical savings, and enhancing brightness and mechanical strength of a paper product made from a pulp material in the process. The composition includes formulations, such as surfactants, chelants, hydrotropes, reductive and oxidative pulp modifiers, and pH-controlling chemicals. The method includes selectively introducing these formulations to the pulp material in the mechanical pulping process.

Abstract: A method for bleaching cellulosic pulp is disclosed, with one embodiment revealing a three-step bleaching method for cellulosic pulp comprising an activating bleach step, an alkaline peroxide step, and a reductive bleach step. The cellulosic pulp treated according to the present invention may possess a greater GE brightness gain than if treated according to conventional methods, while not suffering a significant loss of lignin. The cellulosic pulp may comprise recycled fibers, including those with high groundwood content. The bleaching method may also decrease the pH of the pulp.

Abstract: Mechanical or Chemical pulp is treated with about 0.01 weight % to about 5 weight % of a Mixture. The Mixture is water; diethylenetriaminepentakis(methyl)phosphonic acid or its known salts; polyacrylic acid or its known salts; and optionally one or more inert compounds. This Mixture acts to either maintain the brightness level of the pulp at the target level or to increase the brightness level of the pulp. In addition the Mixture allows for maintaining the pulp at the target level of brightness even when the amounts of other ingredients, such as hydrogen peroxide, hydrosulfite, sodium silicate and magnesium, that are typically added to the pulp, are reduced.

Abstract: The present invention is a method for producing pulp from fibrous lignocellulose material using a treatment step which exposes the material to oxalic acid, or oxalic acid and sodium bisulfite, prior to pulping. The pulping of the resulting product requires less energy input and provides a pulp having enhanced physical properties as compared to untreated materials.

Abstract: In a process of treating wood chips for reduction of the concentration of undesirable inorganic elements prior to cooking in a production line for chemical pulp, the wood chips, having entrapped air, are treated with an aqueous leaching liquor at elevated temperature and pressure, followed by draining at atmospheric pressure or below atmospheric pressure, the pressures being controlled to yield a moisture content in the wood chips as low as possible for adequate leaching result and behavior of the chips in a subsequent digester. The aqueous leaching liquor is e.g. pulp mill process water with a low content of undesirable inorganic components, such as bleach plant spent liquor or condensate. The aqueous leaching liquor drained from the treated wood chips may be purified and recycled back to the process.

Abstract: A cellulosic pulp, method of producing the pulp, and associated paper product produced therefrom produced by providing mercerized cellulosic fibers and depositing a hemicellulose coating upon the mercerized fibers. The hemicellulose is deposited upon the fibers by combining a hemicaustic solution with the mercerized fibers in the presence of an acidifying agent. When formed into a paper sheet, the invented fibers form a highly porous paper having improved strength and reduced dusting.

Abstract: A method for the bleaching and brightness stabilization of lignocellulosic materials is described. The method involves the treatment of lignocellulosic materials, in particular, (a) wood pulps such as thermomechanical pulps (TMP) and chemithermomechanical pulps (CTMP), and (b) papers made from wood pulps, with a water-soluble phosphine or a phosphonium compound preferably containing at least one phosphorus hydroxyalkyl bond/linkage, for example a phosphorus hydroxymethyl bond/linkage (P—CH2OH). One example of such a water-soluble phosphine is the commercially available, tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP), P(CH2OH)3. One example of such a phosphonium compound is the commercially available, tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride (THPC), [P(CH2OH)4]Cl.

Abstract: Hardwood pulp rejects at a given Kappa number can be reduced by subjecting the hardwood pulp to specified cooking conditions at the end of cooking. In this regard, it has been discovered that s-lignin reacts faster than g-lignin and that there exists a higher proportion of g-lignin at the end of a hardwood cook as compared to the g-lignin present at the beginning of the cook. Thus, when cooking hardwoods, relatively harsher cooking conditions (e.g., higher cooking temperatures) at the end of the cooking have been discovered to decrease the g-lignin content which in turn decreases the percentage of pulp rejects at a given Kappa number.

Abstract: Pulping liquors used in the bleaching of pulps by hydrogen peroxide, and containing catalase-producing bacteria and/or catalase enzyme are treated with tris (hydroxymethyl) phosphine or a tetrakis (hydroxymethyl) phosphonium salt to kill the bacteria and destroy the enzyme.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing pulp from a fibre-based raw material using, as the cooking reagent, a solvent mixture which is based on organic acids and also contains furfural. The method is applicable to herbaceous plants, in particular.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, lyocell products can be made with unbleached pulps resulting in products with high amounts of hemicellulose and high amounts of lignin as compared to conventional lyocell products. The lyocell products of the present invention are advantageously less expensive to produce but retain the desirable strength of conventional lyocell products.

Abstract: This invention is a method of reducing the resin content of chemical pulps comprising heating wood chips in an aqueous alkaline medium in the presence of an effective deresinating amount of an alkyl alcohol alkoxylate of formula RO[(CH2CHCH3O)x(CH2CH2O)y]M wherein R is C4 to C40 alkyl; x is 1–50; y is 0–100 and M is H or an alkali metal, a cooking liquor comprising sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfite and the alkyl alcohol alkoxylate and a deresinated pulp prepared according to the method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the production of texturized microcrystalline cellulose from raw pulp material. This texturized microcrystalline cellulose can then be used for surface treatment of paper or paper board. Additionally, the texturized microcrystalline cellulose may be used as a starting material for production of paper or paper board.

Abstract: A process for peroxide bleaching of mechanical or high yield pulp, the process comprising adding to a pulp slurry at least one stabilizer for stabilizing low valency states of transition metal ions in the slurry; subsequently adding caustic soda to said slurry simultaneously with or subsequent to adding said at least one stabilizer; adding hydrogen peroxide to the slurry at a preselected point; and subjecting the slurry to preselected conditions to complete the bleaching process.

Abstract: Selected chlorohydrin and cationic compounds containing nitroxide or hydroxylamine moieties are effective in stabilizing pulp or paper, especially pulp or paper containing lignin, against yellowing and discoloration due to the adverse effects of light. These compounds are added at various points in the paper-making process, especially at the wet ends, making the need for water soluble or water dispersible materials having high affinity for pulp or paper essential. This performance is often further enhanced by the presence of one or more coadditives selected from the group consisting of the UV absorbers, the polymeric inhibitors, the nitrones, the fluorescent whitening agents and metal chelating agents. Combinations of hydroxylamines or their salts, benzotriazole or benzophenone UV absorbers and a metal chelating agent are particularly effective.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for recovering and producing chemicals in a pulp production process where organic chemicals, such as formic acid and acetic acid, are used as cooking chemicals. The process of the invention is based on regeneration of cooking acids and formation of additional cooking acids and furfural by evaporating the cooking liquor and then separating acetic acid, formic acid, furfural and water. The separation is preferably carried out by distillation using the furfural formed in the process as a distilling aid in the distillation.

Abstract: Method for enabling the paper pulp production process to be controlled in such a way that the hexenuronic acid content in the pulp can be minimized and the color reversion of the pulp and/or the pulp products thereby minimized. The method is based on measurements of the optical properties of a fiber containing substance or process stream in the wavelength region 232±5 nm and another wavelength interval. A significant value for the current hexenuronic acid content is formed by correcting the intensity in the spectrum around 232 nm by the corresponding optical quantity at the other wavelength interval. The content of the hexenuronic acid content that is determined by the analysis is then used for controlling conditions in the process stage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating bleaching liquors from pulping processes based on organic acids. The process is characterized in that inorganic acid, such as nitric acid, phosphoric acid and/or sulphuric acid, is added into a bleaching liquor obtained from the bleaching or a stage closely associated with bleaching, whereby organic acids contained in the bleaching liquor are released into the bleaching liquor. The organic acids are then separated from the bleaching liquor and recycled to the cooking stage to be used as cooking chemicals. The nitrogen-, phosphor- and/or sulphur-containing product thereby produced, from which organic acids have been separated, is recovered to be used as a fertilizer or as raw material for a fertilizer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wood treatment solution which does not contain heavy metals and which contains an impregnation agent that is an alkali metal salt or alkaline-earth metal salt of formic acid or propionic acid. The invention also relates to a process for treating wood in order to improve its preservation, in which process wood is treated with the said wood treatment solution.

Abstract: A new method for making pulp out of agricultural residue includes harvesting certain portion of plant stalk. The harvested plant stalk is bailed, transported and stored. At the mill, the plant stalk is chopped and goes through pulping process. The pulp is used to make varieties of papers with or without blending other wood based pulp.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing pulp from a fibre-based raw material using, as the cooking reagent, a solvent mixture which is based on organic acids and also contains furfural. The method is applicable to herbaceous plants, in particular.

Abstract: A cellulosic pulp, method of producing the pulp, and associated paper product produced therefrom produced by providing mercerized cellulosic fibers and depositing a hemicellulose coating upon the mercerized fibers. The hemicellulose is deposited upon the fibers by combining a hemicaustic solution with the mercerized fibers in the presence of an acidifying agent. When formed into a paper sheet, the invented fibers form a highly porous paper having improved strength and reduced dusting.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, lyocell products can be made with unbleached pulps resulting in products with high amounts of hemicellulose and high amounts of lignin as compared to conventional lyocell products. The lyocell products of the present invention are advantageously less expensive to produce but retain the desirable strength of conventional lyocell products.