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A model black liquor formulation for use in development and evaluation of membranes for concentrating weak black liquor, TAPPI Journal February 2022
ABSTRACT: As part of a larger program to develop robust membranes for concentrating weak black liquor prior to the evaporation step, several commercially available membranes were tested for suitability in this application. Given the variation in kraft black liquor for various wood species, the mill-to-mill variations, and the challenges of obtaining fresh samples, the need became apparent for a synthetic reference black liquor that would allow any membrane developer to test a new prototype membrane and compare the results with others. We present a formulation for a model black liquor (MBL) similar to real kraft black liquor in the composition of the major species that can be formulated from readily available reagents. The MBL was tested with two commercial membranes and resulted in similar levels of lignin retention as the real black liquor. It also showed similar viscosity behavior to real black liquor as a function of solids content.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Editorial: Looking forward, looking back, TAPPI Journal January 2022
ABSTRACT: Much like 2020, 2021 was another year of remarkable highs and lows delivered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines, variants, and infection surges altered the way we behaved personally and professionally last year. As we move into 2022, we are now grappling with health and business concerns from the omicron variant that has overwhelmed hospitals in some areas and contributed to a global supply chain crisis. The ability to adjust has once again become a key skill in adapting to our shifting “new normal.”
Journal articles
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Editorial: Unlock the gates! TAPPI Journal moves to fully Open Access research for all, TAPPI Journal March 2022
At TAPPI’s Board of Director’s meeting in February, Peter Hart, associate editor of TAPPI Journal and also a member of TAPPI’s Board of Directors, gave a presentation on the benefits of the journal being fully OA, including the face that its research would serve to advance science and engineering by easily circulating through a broader community that studies these industry.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Creating adaptive predictions for packaging-critical quality parameters using advanced analytics and machine learning, TAPPI Journal November 2019
ABSTRACT: Packaging manufacturers are challenged to achieve consistent strength targets and maximize pro-duction while reducing costs through smarter fiber utilization, chemical optimization, energy reduction, and more. With innovative instrumentation readily accessible, mills are collecting vast amounts of data that provide them with ever increasing visibility into their processes. Turning this visibility into actionable insight is key to successfully exceeding customer expectations and reducing costs. Predictive analytics supported by machine learning can provide real-time quality measures that remain robust and accurate in the face of changing machine conditions. These adaptive quality “soft sensors” allow for more informed, on-the-fly process changes; fast change detection; and process control optimization without requiring periodic model tuning.The use of predictive modeling in the paper industry has increased in recent years; however, little attention has been given to packaging finished quality. The use of machine learning to maintain prediction relevancy under ever-changing machine conditions is novel. In this paper, we demonstrate the process of establishing real-time, adaptive quality predictions in an industry focused on reel-to-reel quality control, and we discuss the value created through the availability and use of real-time critical quality.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
A novel predictive method for filler coflocculation with cellulose microfibrils, TAPPI Journal November 2019
ABSTRACT: Different strategies aimed at reducing the negative impact of fillers on paper strength have been the objective of many studies during the past few decades. Some new strategies have even been patented or commercialized, yet a complete study on the behavior of the filler flocs and their effect on retention, drainage, and formation has not been found in literature. This type of research on fillers is often limited by difficulties in simulating high levels of shear at laboratory scale similar to those at mill scale. To address this challenge, a combination of techniques was used to compare preflocculation (i.e., filler is flocculated before addition to the pulp) with coflocculation strategies (i.e., filler is mixed with a binder and flocculated before addition to the pulp). The effect on filler and fiber flocs size was studied in a pilot flow loop using focal beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) and image analysis. Flocs obtained with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and benonite were shown to have similar shear resistance with both strategies, whereas cationic starch (CS) was clearly more advantageous when coflocculation strategy was used. The effect of flocculation strategy on drainage rate, STFI formation, ash retention, and standard strength properties was measured. Coflocculation of filler with CPAM plus bentonite or CS showed promising results and produced sheets with high strength but had a negative impact on wire dewatering, opening a door for further optimization.
Journal articles
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Lignin-based resins for kraft paper applications, TAPPI Journal November 2019
ABSTRACT: We investigated miscanthus (MS) and willow (W) lignin-furfural based resins as potential reinforce-ment agents on softwood and hardwood kraft paper. These resins might be sustainable alternatives to the commercial phenolformaldehyde (PF) resins. Phenol is a petrochemical product and formaldehyde has been classified as a carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The lignin used in this study was derived from hot water extraction (160ºC, 2 h) of MS and W biomass, and may be considered sulfur-free. These biorefinery lignins were characterized for their chemical composition and inherent properties via wet chemistry and instrumental techniques. The resin blends (MS-resin and W-resin) were characterized for their molecular weight, thermal behavior, and mechanical properties. Mechanical properties were measured by the resin’s ability to reinforce softwood and hard-wood kraft papers. The effect of adding hexamethylenetetramine (HMTA), a curing agent, to the resin was also examined. Mixtures of PF and lignin-based resins were investigated to further explore ways to reduce use of non-renewables, phenol, and carcinogenic formaldehyde. The results show that lignin-based resins have the potential to replace PF resins in kraft paper applications. For softwood paper, the highest strength was achieved using W-resin, without HMTA (2.5 times greater than PF with HMTA). For hardwood paper, MS-resin with HMTA gave the highest strength (2.3 times higher than PF with HMTA). The lignin-based resins, without HMTA, also yielded mechanical properties comparable to PF with HMTA.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Rheological characterization of tack and viscoelasticity of compositions of crepe coating used in the Yankee dryer, TAPPI Journal November 2019
ABSTRACT: The vast majority of tissue production uses creping to achieve the required set of properties on the base sheet. The Yankee coating helps to develop the desired crepe that in turn determines properties such as bulk and softness. The adhesion of the sheet to the Yankee surface is a very important characteristic to consider in achieving the desired crepe. The coating mix usually consists of the adhesive, modifier, and release. A good combination of these components is essential to achieving the desired properties of the tissue or towel, which often are determined by trials on the machine that can be time consuming and lead to costly rejects. In this paper, five compo-sitions of an industrial Yankee coating adhesive, modifier, and release were examined rheologically. The weight ratio of the adhesive was kept constant at 30% in all five compositions and the modifier and release ratios were varied. The normal force and work done by the different compositions have been shown at various temperatures simulating that of the Yankee surface, and the oscillatory test was carried out to explain the linear and nonlinear viscoelastic characteristic of the optimal coating composition.
Journal articles
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Multiple recycling of paperboard: Paperboard characteristics and maximum number of recycling cycles— Part I: Multiple recycling of corrugated base paper, TAPPI Journal November 2019
ABSTRACT: Paper for recycling is an important fiber source for the production of corrugated base paper. The change in production capacity toward more and more packaging papers affects the composition of paper for recy-cling and influences the paper quality. This research project investigated the influence of the multiple recycling of five different corrugated base papers (kraftliner, neutral sulfite semichemical [NSSC] fluting, corrugating medium, testliner 2, and testliner 3) on suspen-sion and strength properties under laboratory conditions. The corrugated board base papers were repulped in a low consistency pulper and processed into Rapid-Köthen laboratory sheets. The sheets were then recycled up to 15 times in the same process. In each cycle, the suspension and the paper properties were recorded. In particular, the focus was on corrugated board-specific parameters, such as short-span compression test, ring crush test, corrugat-ing medium test, and burst. The study results indicate how multiple recycling under laboratory conditions affects fiber and paper properties.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Editorial: TAPPI Journal research highlights from 2019, TAPPI Journal January 2020
ABSTRACT: As we move into 2020, it's interesting to look back at the research topics that were covered in TAPPI Journal (TJ) the previous year. Members of the TJ editorial board organized diverse special issues on lignin, coating ,forming, and diverse papermaking and biorefinery topics, which are discussed in the following sections.