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
Magazine articles
Economic and competitive potential of lignin-based thermoplastics using a multicriteria decision-making method, TAPPI Journal September 2022
ABSTRACT: As a result of new lignin extraction plants hatching and increasing volumes of technical lignin becoming available, a variety of lignin derivatives, including phenolic resins and polyurethane (PU) foams, are reaching the marketplace or being used as intermediate products in many industrial applications. In the spectrum of possible lignin derivatives, thermoplastics appear particularly attractive due to a symbiosis of market, policy, and technology drivers. To assess the preferredness for lignin-based thermoplastics, this paper adapted a risk-oriented methodology formerly applied to assess lignin usage in various applications (phenol-formaldehyde [PF] resins, PU foams, and carbon fiber applications) to the case of lignin-based thermoplastics using hydroxypropylated lignin (HPL) and miscible blends of lignin and polyethylene oxide (PEO). The HPL is considered for garbage bags and agricultural films applications, while lignin-PEO blends are used as replacement for acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) in applications such as automotive parts. In the methodology, two phased-implementation strategies were defined for each thermoplastic derivative, considering perspectives for profit maximization (90 metric tons/day integrated units) and revenue growth (350 metric tons/day overall capacity), which were considered for implementation within a softwood kraft pulping mill. A set of six criteria representative of the main economic and market competitiveness issues were employed, and their respective importance weights were obtained in a multicriteria decision-making (MCDM) panel.Early-stage techno-economic estimates were done as a basis for the calculation of decision criteria. Compared to product derivatives previously assessed, capital investment for thermoplastic strategies appeared marginally higher due to the required lignin modification steps (on average 30% higher at similar capacity, and 6% for higher-scale revenue diversification strategies). Higher operating costs were also observed due to increased chemical expenses for all thermoplastic strategies, which are ultimately balanced by revenues associated with targeted thermoplastic products, leading to greater annual margins and cash flow generation over the project lifetime for thermoplastic strategies compared to other product applications (58% to 66% higher on average, at similar scale). Benefits of improved economics were reflected in economic criteria, internal rate of return (IRR), and cash flow on capital employed (CFCE), as well as in the price competitiveness criterion, CPC. Overall, the combination of relatively high lignin content in the plastic formulation and the less costly modification method contributed to lignin-PEO strategies, gaining the top two rankings. Based on their overall scores, both strategies defined for HPL would also integrate the group of “preferred” strategies, but are outranked by strategies that consider lignin positioning on PU foam applications.
Journal articles
Nonlinear modeling of batch digester discharge dynamics with rheology-driven hydraulic transport and drainability coupling, TAPPI Journal September 2026
ABSTRACT: Batch digester blowdown constitutes a strongly nonlinear transient transport process governed by the coupled evolution of pulp consistency, slurry density, hydraulic resistance, liquid inventory, and discharge line dynamics. A control-oriented nonlinear formulation is developed by coupling dry fiber and free liquor mass balances with phase volume reconstruction, consistency-dependent hydraulic resistance, channeling and drainability effects, and a power law head flow relationship derived within a lumped hydraulic inertance framework. A fixed-gain PI controller obtained from local linearization is employed as the conventional benchmark, whereas an integral sliding mode controller (SMC) explicitly compensates the nonlinear time-varying hydraulic structure and bounded disturbances. Both strategies are evaluated under identical actuator constraints and sequential perturbations involving opposing head, hydraulic resistance, channeling, drainability, and dilution. Numerical results demonstrate lower rootmean- square error, integral absolute error, and peak flow-tracking error for the SMC, with rapid recovery toward the prescribed sliding boundary layer and improved robustness to variations in the nonlinear flow exponent n. Cumulative electrical energy and batch-specific specific energy consumption remain comparatively similar, indicating that the principal SMC benefit is enhanced hydraulic regulation rather than substantial batch energy reduction. Specific energy consumption is an established metric for energetic assessment of slurry transport. Model-based hydraulic demand, electrical power, and sliding manifold surfaces further characterize the nonlinear operating domain. The resulting framework provides a computational proof-of-concept for modeling and control of transient batch digester discharge systems.
Journal articles
Pressure drop characteristics of steam condensation flow in triangular channels for multi-channel cylinder dryers, TAPPI Journal September 2026
ABSTRACT: This study investigates the condensation pressure drop characteristics of steam in the channels of multi-channel drying cylinders, which remain insufficiently understood. An experimental system was established using a horizontal mini-channel with a triangular cross-section and a hydraulic diameter of 4.09 mm. Flow visualization combined with a high-precision data acquisition system was employed to systematically examine the effects of steam mass flux (10•60 kg/(m²·s)), inlet temperature (110°C•140°C), and cooling water flow rate (100•500 kg/h) on the frictional pressure drop during condensation. The results indicate that the two-phase frictional pressure drop increases with rising steam mass flux but decreases with increasing saturation temperature, while the effect of cooling water flow rate becomes more pronounced under lower temperature conditions. In addition, several existing two-phase flow pressure drop correlations were evaluated against the experimental data. Based on a comparative assessment of eight existing correlations, a new predictive model was developed through regression analysis, achieving a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 19.56%. These findings elucidate the pressure drop mechanism of steam condensation in triangular channels and establish a high-precision predictive model, providing theoretical guidance and a critical tool for the engineering design and energy consumption optimization of multi-channel drying cylinders.
Journal articles
Combined effect of fiber fines and dissolved organics on tissue properties, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988 88APR141
Combined effect of fiber fines and dissolved organics on tissue properties, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988
Journal articles
Correlating the on-line measurement of ultrasonic velocity with strength properties, TAPPI JOURANL April 1988 88APR149
Correlating the on-line measurement of ultrasonic velocity with strength properties, TAPPI JOURANL April 1988
Journal articles
Measurement of strains in a paper tensile specimen using computer vision and digital image correlation-Part 2: Tensile specimen test, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988 88APR153
Measurement of strains in a paper tensile specimen using computer vision and digital image correlation-Part 2: Tensile specimen test, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988
Journal articles
Fourth press operation in Japan, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988 88APR83
Fourth press operation in Japan, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988
Journal articles
Energy savings through hot pressing, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988 88APR89
Energy savings through hot pressing, TAPPI JOURNAL April 1988
Journal articles
Automatic winder slitter positioning using a programmable logic controller, TAPPI JOURNAL August 1988
Automatic winder slitter positioning using a programmable logic controller, TAPPI JOURNAL August 1988
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Comparative study of guar gum and its cationic derivatives as pre-flocculating polymers for PCC fillers in papermaking applications, TAPPI Journal April 2022
ABSTRACT: In this work, gums from guar seeds were evaluated as a potential precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) filler pre-flocculant to induce functional filler in papermaking applications. In recent years, guar has been conidered one of the promising wet-end additives due to its abundance, rich source of hemicellulose content, and bio-degradability. However, application of guar gum in filler pretreatment methods for producing high ash paper has scarcely been reported. In this paper, the flocculating ability of three types of guar gum was established with charge analysis and turbidity (NTU) of the system at 1% and 5% for each gum: native gum (NG) having a degree of substitution (DS) of 0, and cationic gums having a DS value of 0.07 (CL) and 0.15 (CH). It was interesting to observe that even at a 5% dose of G, the charge density of PCC did not deviate much from the initial values. The system carried a weak negativeharge, resulting in an unstable colloidal suspension that led to PCC-PCC particle bridging. On the other hand, the operative mechanism of CL and CH during adsorption and PCC flocculation was predicted to be charge neutralization and electrostatic-patch formation, accompanied by particle bridging. Note that CL, with a maximum 47.5% eduction in residual turbidity of PCC at a 1% dose, was much more efficient in doing so than the other two gums; NG had a 40% maximum reduction in residual turbidity at a 5% dose and CH had a maximum 30% reduction at a 1% ose. Later on, floc formation and structure were correlated with optical and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) images. In the next set of trials, paper properties were determined by varying the different gum dosages from 0.2% to 5% at a constant dose of 20% filler. It is also noteworthy to mention that with 1% CL (low DS) dose, PCC retention increased by 39%, which also enhanced the tensile, tear, burst, and opacity properties by 11%, 19%, 5%, and 4.4%, respectively, without significantly affecting the bulk properties. Further, wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis nd Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that pre-flocculating PCC with a 1% gum dose did not induce any change in crystalline transformation. Based on observation, it was found that cationic gums with low DS values re a better choice for maximizing the strength of paper while maintaining bulk and high opacity when pre-flocculaion is adopted to increase the filler retention in paper.