Search
Use the search bar or filters below to find any TAPPI product or publication.
Filters
Content Type
Publications
Level of Knowledge
Committees
Collections
Journal articles
Biomass gasification for green ammonia production in kraft mills, TAPPI Journal September 2026
ABSTRACT: As the global energy sector transitions toward net-zero emissions, kraft pulp mills present a compelling opportunity to produce green fuels and achieve net-negative emissions by capturing biogenic carbon, helping offset hard-to-abate sectors. This study explores the techno-economics of integrating biomass gasification for green ammonia production within kraft mills, using KraftSIM modeling to evaluate ammonia production, steam balance, emissions, and utility impacts. The proposed design enables energy and water system integration with the existing mill and allows for a gradual scale-up without disrupting the chemistry and operation of the recovery cycle. Across five scenarios representing different biomass gasification rates ranging from 100 to 1000 bone-dry metric tons per day (BDMT/d), the process yields ammonia at approximately 0.51 metric tons per bone-dry metric ton (t/ BDMT), while generating significant low- and medium-pressure steam and hot water that offset mill utility demands. The incineration of pressure swing adsorption tail gas and ammonia plant purge gas in the power boiler reduces biomass combustion and enhances power boiler efficiency. Economic analysis suggests a net revenue potential of approximately CA$380/BDMT, which could increase with the implementation of biogenic carbon pricing. Overall profitability is strongly influenced by biomass procurement costs, electricity prices, and prevailing green fuel and chemical market premium. This work outlines a practical, near-term decarbonization pathway for kraft mills by coupling green fuel production with potential opportunities for carbon removal.
Journal articles
Effects of calcium on sodium salt scaling with the presence of resin acids and fatty acids, TAPPI Journal June 2026
ABSTRACT: Reintroducing tall oil soap or its related products into high dry solids black liquor has been found to reduce sodium salt scaling in falling film evaporators. Aside from resin acids and fatty acids, which are the likely scale inhibitors, calcium is reintroduced into black liquor because of the relatively high calcium content of tall oil soap. One concern is that this increase in calcium content might lead to the formation of additional calcium and sodium scales in evaporators. In this work, we investigated the relationship among trace amounts of calcium, sodium salts, resin acids, and fatty acids in a controlled system using a model salt solution and a benchtop setup. We studied the effects of the calcium carbonate addition and calcium carbonate scales on sodium salt scaling in the presence of resin acids and fatty acids. We found that some calcium carbonate is incorporated in the precipitated sodium crystals, and the suspended sodium crystals become larger and more compact with increasing calcium carbonate concentration. Experiments in the benchtop setup show that precipitating calcium carbonate scale on the heat exchanger does not lead to a higher rate of sodium salt scaling. The solubility of calcium carbonate is not affected by the addition of resin acids and fatty acids. These findings indicate that the reduction in sodium salt scaling through the addition of tall oil soap is primarily related to resin acids and fatty acids, rather than to calcium or to interactions between calcium and mixtures of resin and fatty acids.
Journal articles
Optimization of optical coverage of board surfaces with assessment of light scattering and absorption using mineral as a coating component, TAPPI Journal June 2026
ABSTRACT: One of the primary functions of mineral inclusion into paper or paperboard is to improve the optical performance of the substrate. A coating may be applied to a sheet in order to cover a dark base, to improve the sheet opacity, to give the correct smoothness and gloss, or to give a suitable surface on which to print. The brightness of a pigment has long been used as a guide for pigment choice in paper and board. However, the measured paper brightness is a function of color and light absorption (K) of the coating and base and the light scattering (S) within the sheet resulting from interfaces with different refractive index. The optical performance can be quantified by measuring the S&K coefficients as described by the Kubelka-Munk model/theory in a filled or coated paper sheet. In coating, this is often assessed as a function of coat weight, and the corresponding physical sheet properties are assessed at the same time; for example, the correct gloss, smoothness, point-to-point uniformity, and printability. The optical performance in the sheet is often not directly related to the pigment brightness, but is largely a function of the particle packing within the sheet and coating layer. In the first and second main sections of this work, respectively, we show how S&K calculations from the Kubelka- Munk equations can be used in coated sheets to determine the optical performance and how this can be used as a predictive tool for the final sheet performance. This is presented for base sheets with different starting brightness. The third section of this work focuses on how mineral combinations in coatings can be used to improve the light scattering and consequently the optical performance of the board. We include theoretical considerations and then finally share a case study for improvement on the optical properties of recycled board.
Journal articles
Preparation of a vegan leather from mycelium with papermaking method, TAPPI Journal June 2026
ABSTRACT: With growing concern over the environmental impacts of both natural leather and conventional synthetic leathers, the development of sustainable and eco-friendly leather alternatives has become an urgent research priority. In this study, an innovative wet papermaking strategy is proposed to fabricate continuous, homogeneous mycelial sheets from chitin-rich fungal mycelium, mimicking the matrix structure of genuine leather. These mycelial sheets were chemically modified to meet the performance requirements of leather foam layers. Subsequently, the modified mycelial sheets were combined with a substrate fabric to produce a novel mycelium-based leather composite (myco-paper leather) that achieves an excellent balance of mechanical properties and tactile qualities. Experimental results demonstrate that the mycelium-sheet-based leather substitute exhibits remarkable mechanical performance, with a tensile strength of approximately 45 MPa and an elongation at break of about 10.5%. After lamination with the substrate fabric, the composite material shows a tear strength of approximately 16 N, along with a desirable hand feel and surface texture. Following tannic acid tanning, the mycelial sheets also exhibit significant antimicrobial and antifungal properties, forming an inhibition zone of approximately 2 mm against Staphylococcus aureus. Through reinforcement with plant fibers, the developed material attains both strength and flexibility, indicating that the wet papermaking of mycelial sheets is a feasible and scalable approach for producing sustainable leather alternatives. This work not only employs a simple and mature papermaking process to process fungal mycelium but also provides a new conceptual and practical foundation for the large-scale production of bio-based leather substitutes. The findings have significant implications for advancing a low-carbon, sustainable leather industry.
Journal articles
Investigation of the factors contributing to malodorous gases emission during secondary fiber reuse, TAPPI Journal June 2026
ABSTRACT: Malodorous gases are commonly produced during secondary fiber reuse, which is harmful to human health and causes environmental pollution. This paper investigated the influence of fiber type and concentration, temperature, and whitewater concentration on the malodorous gases. The results indicated that, in pulp prepared with fresh water, bleached hardwood kraft pulp (LBKP) did not produce malodorous gases after standing for five days. In contrast, the secondary fiber began to release substantial amounts of total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) on the third day and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and ammonia (NH3) on the sixth day, and black substances began to appear in the pulp, which proved that the microorganisms began to proliferate. With the increase of the secondary fiber concentration, the release amounts of TVOC, H2S, and NH3 gradually rose, along with the black substances in the pulp. With increased temperature, the release of TVOC increased steadily, while the release of H2S and NH3 reached the maximum at about 45°C, and then began to decline. The decrease of the pulp freeness accelerated the generation of the malodorous gases, but the total release amounts of TVOC, H2S, and NH3 were basically the same. With the increase of white water concentration, the release of TVOC, H2S, and NH3 increased rapidly. When the white water/fresh water was 20 mL/80 mL, the slurry changed from pale yellow to aterrimus on the sixth day. Therefore, microorganisms in the secondary fiber caused pulp deterioration, while white water was the main reason for generating a large amount of malodorous gases.
Journal articles
The top six forces shaping electrical distribution and management in the pulp and paper Industry, TAPPI JOURNAL, September 1999, Vol. 82(9)
The top six forces shaping electrical distribution and management in the pulp and paper Industry, TAPPI JOURNAL, September 1999, Vol. 82(9)
Journal articles
Are you losing maintenance dollars in inventory, TAPPI JOURNAL, November 1996, Vol. 79(11)
Are you losing maintenance dollars in inventory, TAPPI JOURNAL, November 1996, Vol. 79(11)
Journal articles
The effect on capability indices of small shifts in the process level, TAPPI JOURNAL, October 1996, Vol. 79(10)
The effect on capability indices of small shifts in the process level, TAPPI JOURNAL, October 1996, Vol. 79(10)
Journal articles
Public perceptions of the pulp and paper industry, TAPPI JOURNAL, October 1996, Vol. 79(10)
Public perceptions of the pulp and paper industry, TAPPI JOURNAL, October 1996, Vol. 79(10)
Journal articles
A stop at AP's Burnie Mill, TAPPI JOURNAL, September 1996, Vol. 79(9)
A stop at ap's burnie mill, TAPPI JOURNAL, September 1996, Vol. 79(9)