A process for isolating lignin from an alkaline process stream of thickened black liquor which is introduced continuously into a lower region of at least one circulation reactor having two reactor zones in concentric arrangement, liquid level of the alkaline process stream in the interior of the reactor is at a level with an upper end of an inner tubular reactor zone, a CO.sub.2-containing gas is blown continuously from the bottom into the inner tubular reactor zone of the reactor, wherein the CO.sub.2-containing gas is absorbed by the alkaline process stream in the inner circulation reactor zone and offgas is drawn off with residual amounts of the CO.sub.2 at the top of the reactor, the process is run at 1 atm, and thickened black liquor with a reduced lignin content together with precipitated lignin present are drawn off optionally after settling at the base of the reactor.

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an upgraded bio-oil derived from black liquor, comprising the following steps: —Providing black liquor, which comes from the pulp and paper manufacturing industry; —Subjecting black liquor to a pyrolysis treatment with formation of a pyrolyzed black liquor gas and a solid mass, which comprises char and salts; —Catalytic conversion of said pyrolyzed black liquor gas by contacting at least part of the latter with a bi-metallic modified zeolite catalyst with formation of the upgraded bio-oil, which comprises benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX), naphthalene and non-BTX products.

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing an upgraded bio-oil derived from black liquor, comprising the following steps: —Providing black liquor, which comes from the pulp and paper manufacturing industry; —Subjecting black liquor to a pyrolysis treatment with formation of a pyrolyzed black liquor gas and a solid mass, which comprises char and salts; —Catalytic conversion of said pyrolyzed black liquor gas by contacting at least part of the latter with a bi-metallic modified zeolite catalyst with formation of the upgraded bio-oil, which comprises benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX), naphthalene and non-BTX products.

The specification relates to a method and a system for adjusting pH of green liquor dregs. The method comprises contacting a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) with flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501). The system comprises a recovery boiler (105) configured to burn black liquor to produce smelt, a smelt dissolving tank (107) configured to dissolve the smelt to produce green liquor comprising green liquor dregs, and a green liquor clarifier/filter (103) and/or a dregs filter (104) configured to separate a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) from the green liquor. The system further comprises a vessel (102, 202, 302, 402) configured to receive a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and a gas inlet (210, 310, 410, 510) configured to convey flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) to be contacted with the slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).

The specification relates to a method and a system for adjusting pH of green liquor dregs. The method comprises contacting a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) with flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501). The system comprises a recovery boiler (105) configured to burn black liquor to produce smelt, a smelt dissolving tank (107) configured to dissolve the smelt to produce green liquor comprising green liquor dregs, and a green liquor clarifier/filter (103) and/or a dregs filter (104) configured to separate a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) from the green liquor. The system further comprises a vessel (102, 202, 302, 402) configured to receive a slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500) and a gas inlet (210, 310, 410, 510) configured to convey flue gas (101, 201, 301, 401, 501) to be contacted with the slurry containing green liquor dregs (100, 200, 300, 400, 500).

A method to determine a reduction rate of a recovery boiler using optical information from a chemical smelt sample. A processor is used to read a digital frame at least part of which represents the chemical smelt sample of the recovery boiler. An area of interest is determined from the digital frame read comprising at least part of the area in the digital frame representing the chemical smelt sample. Of the pixel values of the area of interest, one or more spectral characteristic values correlating with the change of reduction rate are determined. The reduction rate of the recovery boiler is determined using a reduction rate function of one or more of the determined spectral characteristic values weighted at predetermined weights.

A method to determine a reduction rate of a recovery boiler using optical information from a chemical smelt sample. A processor is used to read a digital frame at least part of which represents the chemical smelt sample of the recovery boiler. An area of interest is determined from the digital frame read comprising at least part of the area in the digital frame representing the chemical smelt sample. Of the pixel values of the area of interest, one or more spectral characteristic values correlating with the change of reduction rate are determined. The reduction rate of the recovery boiler is determined using a reduction rate function of one or more of the determined spectral characteristic values weighted at predetermined weights.

Provided herein are compositions and processes concerning efficient downstream processing of products derived from organic acids pretreatment of plant materials.

An apparatus comprising a cleaning rod driven in reciprocating, axial extension (y) and retraction (x) movements upon cleaning a smelt discharge opening of a chemicals recovery boiler, wherein a linear actuator is controllable for driving the cleaning rod in the axial movements. A pivot actuation means is controllable for pivoting the cleaning rod about an axis (S) upon cleaning a smelt spout associated with the smelt discharge opening, wherein one or more sensors are arranged to provide control basis for correlation of the axial movements (x; y) with the change in pivot angle (φ) during pivoting of the cleaning rod. A method to be performed in use of the apparatus is likewise disclosed.

The invention is directed to compositions and processes concerning efficient downstream processing of products derived from organic acids pretreatment of plant materials.