Profiles of alkali concentration for changing process parameters in kraft impregnation of spruce chips
Abstract One of the primary and most critical operations in the kraft pulping process is the impregnation of heterogeneous material, specifically wood or wood chips. This process is influenced not only by the physical properties of the material itself (e.g., dry matter content, density) but also by...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Wood Science |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s10086-025-02221-0 |
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| Summary: | Abstract One of the primary and most critical operations in the kraft pulping process is the impregnation of heterogeneous material, specifically wood or wood chips. This process is influenced not only by the physical properties of the material itself (e.g., dry matter content, density) but also by parameters such as temperature, pressure, cycle duration, and the concentration of the impregnating medium. Ensuring uniform packing of the chips in the digester and optimizing the combination of these process parameters facilitates a homogeneous distribution of the impregnation fluid throughout the wood structure. This study examines the alkaline profiles resulting from specific combinations of these parameters. To identify the optimal conditions, we employed spruce chips with consistent dry matter content and dimensions across all experiments. The experiments were conducted using a reactor specifically designed for impregnation purposes. Results revealed the rate of decline in the concentration of effective alkalis in the impregnation solution, with samples taken at 5-min intervals over a 30-min impregnation period. Findings indicate that temperature significantly impacts the reduction of effective alkali concentration in the impregnation solution. This effect is directly related to the dynamic viscosity of the fluid; as temperature increases, dynamic viscosity decreases, thus reducing resistance to penetration. |
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| ISSN: | 1611-4663 |