A pilot scale comparison of the effects of chemical pre-treatments of wood chips on the properties of low consistency refined TMP

Beatson, Rodger (Rodger Beatson (Rodger_Beatson)) (author)
Sun, Yu (author)
Miller, Meaghan (author)
Chang, Xue Feng (author)
Olson, James (author)
(editor)
(translator)

© 2016 The Authors.

Proceedings of the International Mechanical Pulping Conference 2016, IMPC 2016. After decades of research and development, the technology of thermomechanical pulping (TMP) has dramatically improved resulting in higher pulp quality, especially strength. However, the TMP industry is still faced with the challenge of continually increasing energy costs. One approach to reducing the energy costs is to replace the second-stage high consistency (HC) refiner with several low consistency (LC) refiners. This is based on the observation that low consistency refining is more energy efficient than high consistency refining. The limitation of LC refining is loss of paper strength due to the high frequency of fibre cutting especially at high refining intensity. Chemical treatment combined with low consistency refining provides opportunity for even further energy savings. The chemical treatment could improve pulp properties allowing for further energy reduction in the HC refining stage or reduced intensity during LC refining resulting in less fibre cutting. Indeed, it is also possible that the chemical treatment itself will improve the resistance of the fibre to the cutting during LC refining.

www.tappi.org/Hide/Conference-Proceedings/16IMPC/pdfs/16IMPC09/