A process for the isolation of lignin from black liquor and modification of lignin for use in many plastic applications is disclosed. The isolation of lignin consists of removing all of the non-lignin components from black liquor solution. The non-lignin components including but not limited to organic acids, sugars, and inorganic materials can be removed using either solvent extraction or ion-exchange resin or a combination of both methods. The isolated lignin is water soluble. The non-lignin components can be further isolated and sold or reused in the pulping or lignin isolation processes. The isolated lignin can be further modified in order to meet the needs of the desired plastic application.

Methods of improving the re-dispersibility of dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, methods of re-dispersing dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, compositions comprising re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose and the use of re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose in an article, product or composition; and methods of improving the physical and/or mechanical properties of re-dispersed dried or partially dried microfibrillated cellulose.

Methods of improving the re-dispersibility of dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, methods of re-dispersing dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, compositions comprising re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose and the use of re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose in an article, product or composition; and methods of improving the physical and/or mechanical properties of re-dispersed dried or partially dried microfibrillated cellulose.

A method for manufacturing dissolving pulp using wood material is disclosed. The method comprises subjecting the wood material to a hydrothermal treatment using steam and/or water, digesting the wood material obtained to a pulp in a kraft cooking process; subjecting the pulp to a cold caustic extraction CCE; and dewatering, washing and pressing the pulp to get a pulp product having a carbohydrate content. The wood material can be a coniferous wood material, and whereby the mild hydrothermal treatment is performed to reach a P-factor of from 100-300, and whereby the cold caustic extraction is executed to reach a combined concentration of anhydromannose and anhydroxylose of 5 weight %, or less, of the carbohydrate content of the pulp product.

A method for manufacturing dissolving pulp using wood material is disclosed. The method comprises subjecting the wood material to a hydrothermal treatment using steam and/or water, digesting the wood material obtained to a pulp in a kraft cooking process; subjecting the pulp to a cold caustic extraction CCE; and dewatering, washing and pressing the pulp to get a pulp product having a carbohydrate content. The wood material can be a coniferous wood material, and whereby the mild hydrothermal treatment is performed to reach a P-factor of from 100-300, and whereby the cold caustic extraction is executed to reach a combined concentration of anhydromannose and anhydroxylose of 5 weight %, or less, of the carbohydrate content of the pulp product.

A method of making paper is described. The method includes providing a calcium bicarbonate solution an providing a cellulosic fibrous material, the cellulosic fibrous material comprising a plurality of elongated fibers having a fiber wall surrounding a hollow interior, the fibrous material having a moisture content. The method also includes adding the calcium bicarbonate solution to the cellulosic fibrous material to form a pulp mixture, the calcium bicarbonate solution containing from 0.5% to about 16% solids of calcium bicarbonate by weight. Further, the method includes dewatering the pulp slurry using a wet press device such that the solids of the calcium bicarbonate by weight is pulsed above and below 16% solids by weight, finally ending above 16% calcium bicarbonate by weight and refining the pulp mixture such that at least some of the calcium ions become associated with the reactive sites in the fiber walls. Further still, the method includes forming a web from the pulp mixture and wet pressing the web.

A method of making paper is described. The method includes providing a calcium bicarbonate solution an providing a cellulosic fibrous material, the cellulosic fibrous material comprising a plurality of elongated fibers having a fiber wall surrounding a hollow interior, the fibrous material having a moisture content. The method also includes adding the calcium bicarbonate solution to the cellulosic fibrous material to form a pulp mixture, the calcium bicarbonate solution containing from 0.5% to about 16% solids of calcium bicarbonate by weight. Further, the method includes dewatering the pulp slurry using a wet press device such that the solids of the calcium bicarbonate by weight is pulsed above and below 16% solids by weight, finally ending above 16% calcium bicarbonate by weight and refining the pulp mixture such that at least some of the calcium ions become associated with the reactive sites in the fiber walls. Further still, the method includes forming a web from the pulp mixture and wet pressing the web.

Methods of improving the re-dispersibility of dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, methods of re-dispersing dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, compositions comprising re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose and the use of re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose in an article, product or composition; and methods of improving the physical and/or mechanical properties of re-dispersed dried or partially dried microfibrillated cellulose.

Methods of improving the re-dispersibility of dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, methods of re-dispersing dried or at least partially dried microfibrillated cellulose, compositions comprising re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose and the use of re-dispersed microfibrillated cellulose in an article, product or composition; and methods of improving the physical and/or mechanical properties of re-dispersed dried or partially dried microfibrillated cellulose.

A method of controlling the drying of cellulose pulp in a drying step of a pulp production process. The method including measuring a plurality of process parameters in at least one previous process step; calculating, based on said process parameters, a drying predictive index indicative of the characteristic of a portion of cellulose pulp processed in said previous process step; determining, based on said drying predictive index, at least one drying parameter for drying of said portion of cellulose pulp; and controlling the drying of said portion of cellulose pulp using said drying parameter.