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Journal articles
Paper strength factors in systems with nanofibrillated cellulose, cationic starch, colloidal silica, cationic acrylamide copolymer, and hydrodynamic shear, TAPPI Journal May 2025
ABSTRACT: Laboratory paper sheets were formed by first pretreating nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with cationic starch at the 5% level by mass. The treated NFC was then added to stock prepared from 100% recycled copy paper. The combined furnish was next optionally treated with a cationic retention aid (cPAM, 0.1%) and then colloidal silica (0.1% or 0.2%). Vacuum dewatering, fine-particle retention, and several paper properties were studied as a function of the colloidal silica level (zero, 1%, and 2%) and at different levels of shear stress applied just before forming the sheets. Dewatering and strength results were generally more favorable when using a medium charge cationic starch (~ 0.03 degree of substitution, DS) to pretreat the NFC rather than a high charge density cationic starch (~ 0.2 DS). In each case, the dewatering was further enhanced by subsequent treatments by cPAM (0.1% on whole furnish solids) and then even more with the final addition of colloidal silica (0.1% and 0.2% levels compared). However, the colloidal silica additions progressively hurt the tensile strength of the paper, especially in the case of the high charge cationic starch and at the higher level of colloidal silica. Though the dewatering performance was favorable, in such cases, the paper strength was not improved compared to paper made without any NFC. The fact that the systems involving cPAM treatment, and especially those involving both cPAM and colloidal silica, tended to reduce the resulting paper’s tensile strength supports a mechanism in which the additives result in the clustering of the NFC, possibly in multiparticle bunches. Evidence suggests that such bunches of clustered NFC particles, which are difficult to redisperse even at levels of hydrodynamic shear present in high-speed paper machine systems, are resistant to full integration into the sheet structure as the paper is being formed.
Journal articles
Research on an energy model for X-ray measurement of paper ash content using COMSOL, TAPPI Journal May 2025
ABSTRACT: Ash content is one of the critical quality parameters in papermaking production. Traditional 55Fe radioactive sources used for online ash content measurement have a short lifespan and high costs, while offline methods such as the combustion method or chemical analysis are time-consuming. Using an X-ray tube as the radiation source, continuous X-ray measurement offers advantages such as being rapid, non-destructive, and cost-effective. In this study, COMSOL software was employed to simulate the measurement process and establish an energy attenuation model for X-ray measurement of paper ash content. The model simulates the energy attenuation of X-rays before and after transmission through four materials: calcium carbonate (CaCO3), titanium dioxide (TiO2), wood-based plant fibers, and paper samples filled with CaCO3. The absorption coefficients of paper samples with varying ash content were investigated using the model and compared with experimental results obtained from continuous X-ray measurements. The results indicate that the proposed energy simulation model can reduce the measurement error of paper ash content by 1%, significantly enhancing the reliability and accuracy of ash content measurement.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Boiler retrofit improves efficiency and increases biomass firing rates, TAPPI Journal March 2021
ABSTRACT: Domtar’s fluff pulp mill in Plymouth, NC, USA, operates two biomass/hog fuel fired boilers (HFBs). For energy consolidation and reliability improvement, Domtar wanted to decommission the No. 1 HFB and refurbish/retrofit the No. 2 HFB. The No. 2 HFB was designed to burn pulverized coal and/or biomass on a traveling grate. The steaming capacity was 500,000 lb/h from coal and 400,000 lb/h from biomass. However, it had never sustained this design biomass steaming rate. As the sole power boiler, the No. 2 HFB would need to sustain 400,000 lb/h of biomass steam during peak loads. An extensive evaluation by a combustion and boiler technologies supplier was undertaken. The evaluation involved field testing, analysis, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, and it identified several bottle-necks and deficiencies to achieving the No. 2 HFB’s biomass steam goal. These bottlenecks included an inadequate combustion system; insufficient heat capture; excessive combustion air temperature; inadequate sweetwater con-denser (SWC) capacity; and limited induced draft fan capacity.To address the identified deficiencies, various upgrades were engineered and implemented. These upgrades included modern pneumatic fuel distributors; a modern sidewall, interlaced overfire air (OFA) system; a new, larger economizer; modified feedwater piping to increase SWC capacity; replacement of the scrubber with a dry electrostatic precipitator; and upgraded boiler controls.With the deployment of these upgrades, the No. 2 HFB achieved the targeted biomass steaming rate of 400,000 lb/h, along with lowered stack gas and combustion air temperatures. All mandated emissions limit tests at 500,000 lb/h of steam with 400,000 lb/h of biomass steam were passed, and Domtar reports a 10% reduction in fuel firing rates, which represents significant fuel savings. In addition, the mill was able to decommission the No. 1 HFB, which has substantially lowered operating and maintenance costs.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Peracetate/singlet oxygen chemistry used in post-bleaching of kraft pulp as a practical oxidant for paper machines, TAPPI Journal May 2021
ABSTRACT: The use of a novel sodium peracetate/singlet oxygen chemistry for brightening bleached kraft pulp shows exciting potential for technical performance, supply logistics, safety, and cost reduction. Potential chemical carryover to the paper machine raises questions about whether peracetate will impact paper machine performance, such as metal corrosion, useful press felt life, and interference with existing biocide programs or paper machine chemistry. Sodium peracetate/singlet oxygen chemistry can be used in high-density storage chests for brightening/whitening and to increase color stability. Any oxidant used directly before the paper machine has the possibility of impacting paper machine operations. Traditional oxidants used in bleaching, such as chlorine dioxide and hydrogen peroxide, are known to cause corrosion on machinery metals and press felts. Hydrogen peroxide residuals can interfere with common biocide programs. Traditional oxidants used in biocide treatments themselves significantly degrade press felt life when the rule-of-thumb concentration thresholds are exceeded. Sodium peracetate is evaluated in this paper for its impact on nylon press felt fiber degradation, metal corrosion, and interference with typical biocide programs.Laboratory results indicate that sodium peracetate/singlet oxygen chemistry is less corrosive than chlorine, bromine, and hydrogen peroxide on press felt nylon fiber and can therefore be used at higher levels than those chemistries to increase brightness without increasing negative downstream impact. Sodium peracetate can also be used with current biocide programs without negative impacts such as consumptive degradation. Higher residuals of peracetate going to the paper machine may be useful as a biocide itself and can complement existing programs, allowing those programs to stay within their safe operating levels and thereby extend press felt useful life.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Gas dispersion in the oxygen delignification process, TAPPI Journal May 2021
ABSTRACT: There has been very little knowledge about the state of gas dispersion in the oxygen delignification process, even though this has a major impact on the performance of the reactor. This paper presents a new continu-ous inline method for measuring oxygen bubble size distribution in the reactor, as well as results from studies con-ducted in softwood and hardwood lines. This new measurement worked well, and new information about oxygen bubble size, as well as how different reactor conditions affected the distribution, was obtained. For example:œ In the softwood line, the mean volume-weighted bubble size was about 0.1 mm, whereas in the hardwood line, this size was almost 10 times higher. For both lines, there was considerable variation in the measured bubble size over the long term.œ For both lines, an increase in mixer rotation speed caused a discernible decrease in the bubble size, and an increase in oxygen charge caused a discernible increase in the bubble size.œ In the softwood line, no coalescence of the bubbles in the reactor was observed, but in the hardwood line, some coalescence of the larger bubbles occurred.œ In the test conducted in the hardwood line, the use of brownstock washer defoamer caused a discernible increase in oxygen bubble size.œ In the hardwood line, reactor pressure had a noticeable effect on the amount of delignification, which indicated that improving mass transfer of oxygen (e.g., by decreasing the oxygen bubble size, in this case) should also have an increasing effect on the delignification.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
The role of gas dispersion in the oxygen delignification process, TAPPI Journal May 2021
ABSTRACT: Oxygen delignification is an essential part of the pulp production process. Delignification occurs with the aid of alkali and dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is obtained by dispersing oxygen gas into the pulp suspension by using efficient mixers. Little is known about the state of oxygen gas dispersion and its effect on oxygen delignification kinetics and efficiency. This paper will present the results for the effect of gas bubble size on the performance of oxygen delignification. The results are mainly based on detailed studies made in a Finnish hardwood mill where the oxygen bubble size distribution could be altered at the feed of the reactor. An essential aspect of these studies was the use of a new continuous inline gas bubble size measurement system to simultaneously determine the bubble size distribution at the feed and top of the reactor. Information about oxygen consumption in the reactor could also be obtained through the bubble size measurements. Accordingly, these studies quantify the effect of oxygen bubble size on the kappa reduction of the pulp. The effect of different chemical factors on the oxygen bubble size is also studied.Finally, the relationship between the gas bubble size and the liquid phase oxygen mass transfer coefficient (kLa) is presented. This connects the bubble size to the kappa reduction rate. Based on the presented modeling approach and the evaluation of practical factors that are not taken into account in the modeling, it was concluded that the volumetric average oxygen bubble size should preferably be smaller than 0.2 mm in practice.The information obtained with the new gas bubble size measurement system and the presented modeling approach give a very new basis for understanding, monitoring, adjusting, and designing oxygen delignification processes.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Editorial: Celebrating an industry giant: Dr. Peter W. Hart, TAPPI Journal April 2024
ABSTRACT: On February 19, 1915, at the annual meeting of the American Paper and Pulp Association held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, a group of 35 people formed a new division called the “Technical Section of the American Paper and Pulp Association” with the objectives to: (1) stimulate interest in the science of pulp and papermaking; (2) provide means for the inter-change of ideas among its members; and (3) encourage original investigation. At that meeting, Professor Ralph H. McKee of the University of Maine (1909-1916) spoke. Professor McKee had initiated the first college course in Pulp and Paper in the United States. In his remarks he stated:
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Effect of pressure and time on water absorption of coated paperboard based on a modified Cobb test method, TAPPI Journal April 2024
ABSTRACT: This manuscript presents the study of water absorption by paperboard subjected to water at high hydrostatic pressure based on a modified Cobb tester. The new tester is based on TAPPI Standard Test Method T 441; however, the water column can reach up to 550 mm. The evaluation consisted of measurements of water absorption for coated and uncoated paperboard at different exposure times from 5 s to 45 s and water column heights from 10 mm to 500 mm (corresponding to hydrostatic pressures 98 Pa and 4.9 kPa, respectively). The coatings were formulated as a combination of styrene acrylate (SA; two binder levels) and two types of ground calcium carbonates (differing particle sizes) to form the two pre-coating structures: open and closed. The coating weight was 6 g/m2 applied on 210 g/m2 solid bleached board (SBB). In addition, 210 g/m2 uncoated boards were studied. Characterization of the coatings was performed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion, and roughness. It was found that the new device properly mimics the conditions of the current Cobb tester. The characterization of the coating also confirmed the presence of more open/larger pores of open coatings, confirming the desired coating structure. The absorption of boards was mainly driven by exposure pressure by comparing with exposure time. This was already evident after shorter periods of exposure time at 5 s and also 15 s exposure time. Paperboards with open coatings showed slightly higher absorption than other boards.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Compression refining: the future of refining? Application to Nordic bleached softwood kraft pulp, TAPPI Journal August 2024
ABSTRACT: A new compression refining technology based on the kneading of high consistency pulp has been selected and tested in various conditions with a model Nordic bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) pulp. The method uses a kneader mixer referred to as the ultra continuous mixer (UCM) to condition the pulp. Its performance levels were also compared with those obtained with traditional low consistency (LC) refining of the same pulp.Compression refining of the NBSK pulp with the UCM led to a much better °SR/strength compromise than conventional LC refining. High strength properties can also be achieved by compression refining, in a range similar to/or better than LC refining. The higher the strength required, the greater the advantages of this technology: for a given strength, a difference of up to 10°SR can be obtained as compared to LC refined pulp. Moreover, a higher tear index can be obtained with compression refining, since fiber cutting is greatly reduced.The lower °SR is due to the release of fewer cellulosic fines, which also results in the manufacturing of new papers combining a high strength and a high permeability that cannot be obtained with traditional LC refining. Indeed, with LC refining, a high strength is generally associated with a low permeability. Upscaling this technology seems to be possible since large production devices are already on the market for applications other than paper/pulp. With this new pulp behavior, papermakers will have to learn to think differently, as paper strength and °SR can now be decorrelated.
Journal articles
Magazine articles
Dynamic out-of-plane compression of paperboard — Influence of impact velocity on the surface, TAPPI Journal February 2024
ABSTRACT: Processes that convert paperboard into finished products include, for example, printing, where the paperboard is subjected to rapid Z-directional (ZD) compression in the print nip. However, measuring and evaluating the relevant properties in the thickness direction of paperboard are not necessarily straightforward or easy. Measuring at relevant, millisecond deformation rates further complicates the problem. The aim of the present work is to elucidate some of the influences on the compressive stiffness. Both the initial material response and the overall compressibility of the paperboard is studied. In this project, the effect on the material response from the surface structure and the millisecond timescale recovery is explored.The method utilized is a machine called the Rapid ZD-tester. The device drops a probe in freefall on the substrate and records the probe position, thus acquiring the deformation of the substrate. The probe is also allowed to bounce several times on the surface for consecutive impacts before being lifted for the next drop. To investigate the time dependent stiffness behavior, the probe is dropped several times at the same XY position on the paperboard from different heights, thus achieving different impact velocities. The material response from drops and bounces combined allows study of the short-term recovery of the material. The material in the study is commercial paperboard. The paperboard samples are compared to material where the surface has been smoothed by grinding it. Our study shows that there is a non-permanent reduction in thickness and a stiffening per bounce of the probe, indicating a compaction that has not recovered in the millisecond timescale. Additionally, a higher impact velocity has an initial stiffening effect on the paperboard, and this is reduced by smoothing the surface.