Abstract: A novel process for bleaching cellulosic pulp is disclosed which provides improvements in pulp brightness and delignification without negatively impacting physical properties of the pulp. Specifically, a process is disclosed in which kraft pulp is treated with at least one of each of an oxidizing agent, an alkaline agent, and a metal substituted xerogel in a bleaching stage to improve brightness and delignification of softwood, hardwood, or recycled pulp. In a preferred embodiment, a process is disclosed which uses at least one metal substituted xerogel as a catalyst in an alkaline peroxide bleaching stage to improve kraft pulp brightness and delignification. Pulps bleached according to the process of the present invention are also disclosed.

Abstract: Virgin fibers or de-inked recycled fibers modified by steam explosion in the presence of certain chemicals are able to form handsheets with higher bulk while substantially retaining strength and brightness.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for making a lyocell fiber by contacting an alkaline pulp having cellulose and at least about 7% hemicellulose under alkaline conditions with an amount of an oxidant sufficient to reduce the average degree of polymerization of the cellulose to the range of from about 200 to about 1100 without substantially reducing the hemicellulose content of the pulp or increasing the copper number and then forming fibers from the pulp.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of stabilizing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, such as a circulating water slurry, comprising a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide. The aqueous solution may include organic matter. The method comprises adding an aldehyde donor, such as a methylolhydantoin, to the solution (or slurry). The inventors have discovered that aldehyde donors significantly reduce the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase and other peroxide decomposing enzymes, which are often present in recycled paper. As a result, less hydrogen peroxide needs to be added to a solution to effectively bleach organic matter in the solution. Furthermore, aldehyde donors are safe to handle and cost effective. Another embodiment is a method of bleaching recycled papers in a circulating water slurry comprising organic matter. The method comprises adding hydrogen peroxide and an aldehyde donor to the slurry.

Abstract: A method for bleaching unbleached softwood or hardwood pulps using hydrogen peroxide without added alkali for activation is described. The aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution contains an alkaline earth metal carbonate, preferably magnesium carbonate and can be used at elevated temperatures. Bleached hardwood or softwood mechanical pulps with high brightness, low yellowness (b*) and reduced reversion properties are produced.

Abstract: A process for preparing a bleached sulfite chemical pulp includes delignification of chips of a lignocellulosic material in a sulfite pulping process until the defibration point of the material is reached, and bleaching of the fibrous material thus obtained by a chlorine-free bleaching sequence which includes at least one first bleaching step with a chlorine-free oxidant in the presence of a base. The chemical pulp prepared according to this process and paper or nonwoven made from such pulp have a high degree of brightness (at least 83% ISO) and high strength.

Abstract: A method of stabilizing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, such as a circulating water slurry, comprising a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide. The aqueous solution may include organic matter. The method comprises adding an aldehyde donor, such as a methylolhydantoin, to the solution (or slurry). The inventors have discovered that aldehyde donors significantly reduce the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase and other peroxide decomposing enzymes, which are often present in recycled paper. As a result, less hydrogen peroxide needs to be added to a solution to effectively bleach organic matter in the solution. Furthermore, aldehyde donors are safe to handle and cost effective. Another embodiment is a method of bleaching recycled papers in a circulating water slurry comprising organic matter. The method comprises adding hydrogen peroxide and an aldehyde donor to the slurry.

Abstract: A process for bleaching chemical pulp for paper manufacturing comprising delignifying and bleaching chemical pulp which has been treated by cooking by simultaneous use of chlorine dioxide, a peroxide, and at least one reaction catalyst selected from the group consisting of oxoacids of elements of Groups IV, V and VI and salts of these acids. Formation of organic chlorine compounds as by-products is suppressed by decreasing the amount of chlorine dioxide used in the ECF bleaching process in the first stage, and thus environmental toxicity in the waste water discharged from the bleaching process is decreased. Chemical pulp having a high degree of brightness is economically produced because increase in the production capacity is not required at all or suppressed to the minimum, and the investment cost is reduced to the minimum when the bleaching with chlorine in the first stage is converted into the bleaching with chlorine dioxide which is an ECF bleaching process.

Abstract: A process for final bleaching cellulose-containing pulp which has been subjected to previous bleaching with a peroxide compound. The process involves the sequential steps of exposing the pulp to an amount of a reducing agent in order to eliminate residual peroxide compound from the pulp and then final bleaching the pulp by exposing the pulp to an amount of formamidine sulfinic acid.

Abstract: A process for final bleaching cellulose-containing pulp which has been subjected to previous bleaching with a peroxide compound. The process involves the sequential steps of exposing the pulp to an amount of a reducing agent in order to eliminate residual peroxide compound from the pulp and then final bleaching the pulp by exposing the pulp to an amount of formamidine sulfinic acid.

Abstract: A multi-function process is described for the separation of cellulose fibers from the other constituents of lignocellulosic biomass such as found in trees, grasses, agricultural waste, and waste paper with application in the preparation of feedstocks for use in the manufacture of paper, plastics, ethanol, and other chemicals. This process minimizes waste disposal problems since it uses only steam, water, and oxygen at elevated temperature in the range of 180° C. to 240° C. for 1 to 10 minutes plus a small amount of chemical reagents to maintain pH in the range 8 to 13. An energy recuperation function is important to the economic viability of the process.

Abstract: A process for producing microcrystalline cellulose.

Abstract: Transition metal complex compounds of polydentate ligands with improved delignifying and bleaching performance. These polydentate ligands are organic ligands which, in aqueous solution and in the presence of atmospheric oxygen, or hydrogen peroxide, form a complex with a transition metal, in particular cobalt. The complexes are mono- or polynuclear and they have, when peroxo compounds are used, better delignifying and bleaching performances than conventional transition metal complex compounds. A delignifying and bleaching method, in which these transition metal complex compounds with polydentate ligands having improved delignifying and bleaching performance are used as catalysts, is also described.

Abstract: The present invention is a method of stabilizing hydrogen peroxide in an aqueous solution, such as a circulating water slurry, comprising a peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide. The aqueous solution may include organic matter. The method comprises adding an aldehyde donor, such as a methylolhydantoin, to the solution (or slurry). The inventors have discovered that aldehyde donors significantly reduce the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide by catalase and other peroxide decomposing enzymes, which are often present in recycled paper. As a result, less hydrogen peroxide needs to be added to a solution to effectively bleach organic matter in the solution. Furthermore, aldehyde donors are safe to handle and cost effective. Another embodiment is a method of bleaching recycled papers in a circulating water slurry comprising organic matter. The method comprises adding hydrogen peroxide and an aldehyde donor to the slurry.

Abstract: A process for delignification and bleaching of chemically digested lignocellulose-containing pulp. In a first embodiment, the pulp is acid treated at a pH of between about 1 and about 6, whereupon a water-soluble compound containing an alkaline earth metal is added at a pH of between about 1 and about 7 before the pulp is treated with a chlorine-free bleaching agent. In a second embodiment, the acid and alkaline earth metal treatments are carried out in a single step. The chlorine-free bleaching agent includes peroxide compounds, ozone, oxygen and sodium dithionite in an optional sequence or mixture. After the treatment according to the invention, the pulp may be finally bleached to the desired brightness, suitably with a chlorine-free bleaching agent, such as ozone, to completely avoid formation and discharge of AOX.

Abstract: A novel method for the production of light-stable lignocellulosic materials, in particular, the production of mechanical wood pulps with much improved light stability is described, as well as the resulting pulps of improved light stability and papers containing such pulps. The novel method involves the reaction of lignocellulosic materials such as bleached thermomechanical pulp (BTMP) with a water-soluble, fiber-reactive yellowing inhibitor possessing a primary or secondary amino (—NH2 or —NHR) functional group in an aqueous medium, or with a water-soluble, fiber-reactive hindered amine light stabilizer possessing a primary or secondary amino (—NH2 or —NHR) functional group 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: The present invention provides methods for reducing fluorescence in a paper-containing sample. Methods for destroying fluorescent whitening agents in a paper-containing sample are also provided.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for treating pulp, a peroxide treatment of chemical pulp, i.e., both sulphite pulp and kraft pulp, is used to quickly reduce the Kappa number of the pulp. The method involves treating a chemical pulp with at least hydrogen peroxide or its equivalent, the kappa number of which chemical pulp has been brought to a level below 20 by either at least cooking or cooking and delignifying. The pulp is treated in a fast alkaline or neutral peroxide stage (Pk) (e.g. a small reactor having a volume of, or proportional to, less than about 90 cubic meters for 1500 tons per day pulp treatment) to reduce the kappa number by 1-10 units, and preferably by 3-7 kappa units, in which treatment the reaction time is less than 10 minutes, and is preferably less than 5 minutes. The pulp is then transferred substantially without intermediate washing of any type to a bleaching tower, and then bleached further in an acidic bleaching step (e.g. a D or Z step) in the bleaching tower.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant: R1—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)n]—H  (1) R2—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)q—H  (2) (R3)t—X—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)r—H  (3) where R1 stands for a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, m stands for an average added mol number of 4 to 15, A stands for a propylene, butylene or phenylethylene group, n stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 4, the addition shown in [ ] is in a random or block form, R2 stands for a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, p stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 3.9, q stands for an average added mol number of 0.

Abstract: A unit (4) consumes hydrogen peroxide at a predetermined concentration C1 and at a rate variable from 0 to D1. The apparatus (1) generates hydrogen peroxide at a concentration C2>C1 and at a rate variable between two values D2 and D3. The generated hydrogen peroxide is fed to a buffer (2) from which a variable flow is drawn, optionally diluted (at 3) and fed to the consumer unit (4). The system is useful for delivering hydrogen peroxide to paper pulp bleaching units.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for producing pulp which is cooked under alkaline conditions and which is bleached without using chlorine-containing bleaching chemicals, in which process used cooking chemicals are recovered in a first recovery installation and used bleaching chemicals are recovered in a second recovery installation. The used cooking and bleaching chemicals can be regenerated and reused.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the content of chemicals used in connection with bleaching of preferably cellulose fibers in a pulp, suspension for the purpose of providing a better and more uniform product quality and preventing overdosage of the bleaching chemical used. According to the invention a measurement sample is derived from a predetermined volume of the pulp suspension after or during the bleaching. Further, a catalyst in the shape of the enzyme catalase is added to the sample, which is agitated so that the bleaching chemical is decomposed and oxygen gas is generated, which oxygen gas pushes out a certain sample volume for the measurement sample, which sample volume is directly or indirectly converted, e.g. via a simple algorithm, to a value representing the content of the bleaching chemical used.

Abstract: Methods for oxygen delignification of chemical pulps are disclosed including contacting the chemical pulp with oxygen first in an upstream reactor vessel and then in a downstream reactor vessel. The upstream reactor vessel is maintained at pressures of greater than about 3 bar, and the downstream reactor vessel is maintained at temperatures of between about 90 and 120° C. and corresponding predetermined pressures. Heating of the partially delignified chemical pulp between the upstream and downstream reactors is accomplished by contacting the partially delignified chemical pulp with low pressure steam.

Abstract: Wood pulp is bleached using hydrogen peroxide as the oxidative bleaching agent in the presence of magnesium hydroxide or magnesium oxide. The bleaching process is carried out in the presence of magnesium hydroxide as the predominant, and preferably essential, source of alkali. The process optionally includes transition metal chelants, such as DTPA or EDTA in the bleaching slurry. The process eliminates the need for added caustic and silicate in such systems and can be carried out at or near neutral pH of 5.0 to 8.5.

Abstract: Provided is a method of treating chemical paper pulp having the steps of: adjusting the pH of the pulp to be between 1 and 6; treating the pulp with ozone to reduce the kappa number of the pulp; treating the pulp with a chelating agent after the ozone treating step without any intervening washing step between the ozone treating step and the chelating agent treating step; adjusting the pH of the pulp by adding alkali together with or after the addition of chelating agent to a pH exceeding 3; washing the pulp; and bleaching the pulp with peroxide.

Abstract: A process for bleaching pulp, in which, after fiber liberation, a first filtrate containing metals, principally in ionic form, is separated off from the pulp, and supplied downstream to the pulp flow after a bleaching stage.

Abstract: The invention refers to a method to delignify fibrous material comprising an aqueous suspension of fibers which has a consistency between 5%-40%, with a peroxy compound that is used in amounts between 0.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for reducing fluorescence in a paper-containing sample. Methods for destroying fluorescent whitening agents in a paper-containing sample are also provided.

Abstract: In the treatment of cellulose pulp in connection with bleaching, the pulp is first cooked and, if necessary, oxygen delignified in order to reduce the Kappa number below 24, preferably below 14, and after that the pulp is treated in an acid stage at a pH of 2-5 and at a temperature range of 75-130° C. in order to reduce the Kappa number by 2-9 units. To prevent essential weakening of the strength properties of the pulp in the acid stage treatment tower, the retention time, t min, is 30 to 300 minutes and the treatment temperature, T° C.

Abstract: Multi-component system for modifying, degrading or bleaching lignin, lignin-containing materials or similar substances, includes

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant:

Abstract: A low energy thermomechanical pulping process which employs an enzyme treatment stage between two low energy thermomechanical stages.

Abstract: A process for the bleaching of chemical pulp, in which process the pulp is delignified with a peracid and additionally the pulp is chelated in order to bind heavy metals, such as Fe, Mn and/or Cu, into a chelate complex. According to the invention, the chelating is carried out using a chemical which has been selected from a group consisting of N-bis-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine, N-bis-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-aspartic acid and N-tris-((1,2-dicarboxy-ethoxy)-ethyl)-amine, as well as the alkali metal and earth-alkali metal salts thereof, and the peracid and chelating treatments are carried out simultaneously by combining the peracid and the said chelating chemical in the same solution phase. In the bleaching sequence the treatment according to the invention may follow, for example, an ozone delignification and precede an alkaline peroxide step, and in the latter case a magnesium compound, such as MgSO4, may be added to the pulp before the alkali step.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for producing a base paper for fine papers, the base paper being produced from a mixture of a mechanical pulp and a chemical pulp. The chemical pulp used comprises a chemical softwood pulp having a elastic modulus close to that of the mechanical pulp and a great bonding strength. It is preferred to use a chemical softwood pulp which produces a sheet having a elastic modulus of less than 6000 N/mm2 when the bonding strength is 400 J/m2. A pulp of this kind has a good ScottBond strength at the same light scattering. The base paper produced by the method can therefore be used in double-coated fine papers which require a large bonding strength of the base paper.

Abstract: High-yield chemimechanical lignocellulosic pulp is produced from non-woody species by cutting and screening the non-woody species, soaking them in an acidic aqueous solution preferably containing a chelating agent, treating the washed non-woody species with an alkaline peroxide solution containing a second chelating agent, and mechanical refining. To further increase the bleaching efficiency the non-woody species are impregnated with ozone or peracetic acid. The resulting pulp has a relatively high brightness while the consumption of peroxide is reduced compared to prior art processes.

Abstract: Multi-component system for modifying, degrading or bleaching lignin, lignin-containing materials or similar substances, includes (a) if appropriate at least one oxidation catalyst; (b) at least one suitable oxidizing agent; and (c) at least one mediator, wherein the mediator is chosen from the group consisting of N-aryl-N-hydroxyamides.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of bleached cellulose pulp, in conjunction with which lignocellulose material is digested to form cellulose pulp by means of an alkaline digestion liquor, and the cellulose pulp in the form of a suspension is screened, if necessary, and subjected in series to at least oxygen gas delignification/bleaching (O), if required, chlorine dioxide bleaching (D) and bleaching with non chlorine-containing, oxidative bleaching agent (O, P, Z), with the various bleaching stages interspersed with washing and/or reconcentration of the cellulose pulp in at least one stage, characterized in that complexing agents are added to the cellulose pulp in conjunction with the chlorine dioxide bleaching. It is also important for the mol quotient of the cellulose pulp for magnesium/manganese, during bleaching with a non chlorine-containing, oxidative bleaching agent, to be maintained at or brought to a value exceeding 20, and preferably exceeding 40.

Abstract: An aqueous alkaline slurry of cellulose pulp is bleached with oxygen or peroxide by using a compound represented by general formula (1), (2) or (3) as a bleaching assistant: R1—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)n]—H  (1) R2—O—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)q—H  (2) (R3)t—X—[(C2H4O)m/(AO)p]—(AO)r—H  (3) where R1 stands for a branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, m stands for an average added mol number of 4 to 15, A stands for a propylene, butylene or phenylethylene group, n stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 4, the addition shown in [ ] is in a random or block form, R2 stands for a linear or branched alkyl group having 6 to 12 carbon atoms, p stands for an average added mol number of 0 to 3.9, q stands for an average added mol number of 0.

Abstract: In the post-digestion treatment of kraft cellulosic pulp, the improvement comprising subjecting the pulp to a two-phase process in which the two-phases are substantially identical and each phase includes contacting the pulp first with an ozone/oxygen mixture at a temperature below about 60° C. and thereafter with oxygen with the pulp at a temperature above about 65° C.

Abstract: This process involves feeding cellulose into an extruder with an acid solution. The extruder is comprised of a screw and a barrel. The screw is rotated so as to pressurize the cellulose, and the cellulose undergoes acid hydrolysis and forms microcrystalline cellulose. The invented process can be accomplished by using pure cellulose or a lignocellulosic material as the starting material. If a lignocellulosic material is used, then a basic solution is added to it and the lignocellulosic material is fed through an extruder so as to obtain a mixture comprising lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The lignin and hemicellulose are extracted and the remaining cellulose is processed, as discussed previously, to form microcrystalline cellulose.

Abstract: A method for treating a fiber pulp suspension, which comprises transporting the fiber pulp suspension from a maintenance vessel, in which there is atmospheric pressure or at most 1 bar overpressure and in which the pulp suspension is at a temperature which does not exceed 95° C., to a bleaching reactor and introducing the suspension into the bottom part of the reactor, which is at least 10 m high and at the top of which there is an overpressure which exceeds the steam saturation pressure, in which reactor the pulp is subjected to a bleaching treatment under pressure at a reaction temperature exceeding 100° C., in addition to which the pulp suspension, during the transportation from the maintenance vessel to the reactor, is heated to at least reaction temperature. The pulp suspension is pumped to a mixer with the aid of a first pump which provides 1.5-3 bar overpressure. Low-pressure steam, which is at a pressure of 3-8 bar above atmospheric pressure and a temperature of 135-155° C.

Abstract: Process for bleaching a chemical paper pulp to a brightness of at least 89° ISO, consisting in subjecting the pulp to a treatment sequence of several stages including a final bleaching stage with hydrogen peroxide in alkaline medium carried out in the presence of at least one stabilising agent and at a consistency of at least 25% by weight of solids, the stages preceding this final stage having purified the pulp so that its manganese content does not exceed 3 ppm by weight with respect to the solids and that the pulp has been delignified beforehand to a kappa number not exceeding 5.

Abstract: Methods for oxygen delignification of chemical pulps are disclosed including contacting the chemical pulp with oxygen first in an upstream reactor vessel and then in a downstream reactor vessel. The upstream reactor vessel is maintained at pressures of greater than about 3 bar, and the downstream reactor vessel is maintained at temperatures of between about 90 and 120° C. and corresponding predetermined pressures. Heating of the partially delignified chemical pulp between the upstream and downstream reactors is accomplished by contacting the partially delignified chemical pulp with low pressure steam.

Abstract: A process for production of a lignocellulosic material modified by conjugation thereto of a phenolic substance comprising a substituent which, in the conjugated form of the phenolic substance, is, or may become, negatively or positively charged, respectively, comprises: reacting a lignocellulosic fibre material and the phenolic substance with an oxidizing agent in the presence of an enzyme capable of catalyzing the oxidation of phenolic groups by the oxidizing agent; and reacting together the products of the reactions; with the proviso that the phenolic substance is not a phenolic polysaccharide. A strengthened lignocellulose-based product (e.g. a paper product) may be prepared by a procedure wherein a product produced in accordance with the latter process is treated with a strengthening agent having an ionic charge of sign opposite to that which is conferred on the modified lignocellulosic material by the charge-conferring substituent.

Abstract: A process for producing a pulp from cellulose-containing material, wherein the material is reacted with formic acid as the solvent, and cooked at approximately the boiling temperature of the solvent, whereby return condensation is used. Annual plants, deciduous or coniferous wood can be used as the cellulose-containing material. In one variant of the process, the cellulose-containing material is only slightly warmed, whereby backflow cooling is used, and then a precisely predetermined quantity of hydrogen peroxide is slowly added to the liquid at a constant rate. This process variant can be repeated at a lower cooking temperature. The pulp thus obtained is preferably utilized in the production of cellulose, and in particular in the production of paper or cardboard. It is proposed that the lignin, which is isolated from the cellulose-containing material, have further applications, whereby such lignin is, after the pulp has been separated from the solvent, itself precipitated out in water.

Abstract: A soft, bright and strong tissue paper product and a process for preparing such a tissue paper product is provided. The inventive tissue paper product is prepared from raw cotton linter fibers and demonstrates unexpected medical benefits or advantages in addition to a balance of properties.

Abstract: A process for the delignification of a chemical pulp, such as a sulfate or sulfite pulp, in which process the pulp is treated with a peroxide and/or a peracid in the presence of an activating Ti-, V- or Cr-group transition metal, such as molybdenum, vanadium or tungsten. A compound containing at least one heteroatom, such as Si, P or B, which is capable of forming a heteropolyacid with the activating transition metal, is added to the pulp. The feeding of the activating transition metal and the heteroatom into the pulp may take place in one and the same alkaline solution, for example introduced into the solution or in the form of a compound of the silicomolybdenic acid type, formed in the solution. The peroxide and/or peracid treatment may constitute part of the bleaching sequence, which contains as potential other treatment steps, for example, a treatment with oxygen and a chelation for the removal of heavy metals such as iron, manganese and/or copper.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of producing pulp with a high brightness using single-stage cooking with formic acid, washing with performic acid and bleaching with oxidizing bleaching chemicals. In performic acid washing, the rapid formation and rapid reactions of performic acid (HCOOOH) are utilitized for modification of residual lignin. The method of the invention provides an ISO brightness exceeding 90% without a chlorine chemicals. The method can be applied to both herbaceous plants and wood.

Abstract: Recycled paper pulp having at least two different types of paper which consume widely different amounts of bleaching chemical, or mixed hardwood and soft-wood pulps, are treated in a manner that enhances distribution and redistribution of bleaching chemical to enhance uniformity of the bleaching treatment. The pulp is intensely mixed to provide a homogenous mixture of fibrous material and bleaching chemical, and then is continuously or intermittently subjected to mechanical action (such as in low intensity mixers, or by agitating pulp in a retention tank) of sufficient intensity and duration so as to enhance distribution and redistribution of a bleaching chemical. Also, recycled pulp will have cleanliness which varies significantly over time, and this is accommodated by sensing at least one of the brightness, color, or lignin content (e.g.

Abstract: A method for improving the preparation of chemical cellulosic wood pulp for use in papermaking, and specifically to enhancement of the quality of a kraft pulp which has been subjected to a chlorine dioxide/chlorine bleaching stage and thereafter subjected to ozonation prior to an extraction stage in the bleaching sequence. The improved pulp of the present invention exhibits reduced total organically bound chlorine residues in the wood pulp and adsorbed organic halides (AOX) in the effluent, and has good brightness and viscosity. The advantages of the present invention may be accomplished by means of a bleaching sequence that employs a minimum of stages, namely (D.fwdarw.C)ZED or D.sub.c ZED with attendant relatively lower capital investment than heretofore possible.