A method for optimizing reduction and content of total titratable alkali of green liquor of a recovery boiler. The method comprises producing green liquor in a dissolving tank by conveying smelt and weak white liquor into the dissolving tank and measuring at least the contents of sodium sulphate, sodium hydroxide, sodium sulphide, and sodium carbonate of the green liquor. The method comprises controlling at least a process parameter of a recovery boiler to maximize the reduction of the recovery boiler and controlling the flow of the weak white liquor into the dissolving tank to optimize the content of total titratable alkali of the green liquor. In addition, a system for producing green liquor with optimized reduction and content of total titratable alkali. The system comprises a first sensor arrangement, a first and a second regulator, and a processing unit arrangement configured to perform the method.

The disclosure provides methods and compositions for reducing the viscosity of black liquor. Also provided are methods of inhibiting deposition of scale and methods of processing black liquor. In some embodiments, the compositions include a carboxylate-containing polymer and an inorganic salt. In some embodiments, the compositions include a carboxylate-containing polymer, an inorganic salt, and a surfactant.

Compositions and methods for minimizing fouling and/or reducing the viscosity of black liquor in a Kraft pulping process are provided. An exemplary composition includes an anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactant; an anionic sulfate or sulfonate dispersant; and a nonionic alkoxylated surfactant.

Compositions and methods for minimizing fouling and/or reducing the viscosity of black liquor in a Kraft pulping process are provided. An exemplary composition includes an anionic sulfate or sulfonate surfactant; an anionic sulfate or sulfonate dispersant; and a nonionic alkoxylated surfactant.

A chemical recovery boilers is described in which the primary air system is reconfigured to provide aggressive charbed control and improved combustion in the lower furnace. The fewest number of primary air ports are used on two opposing walls to generate powerful air jets that penetrate across the boiler providing physical and thermal stability to the charbed while increasing the heat release and combustion stability in the lower furnace, increasing reduction efficiency, and lowering carryover and emissions. Various embodiments are described including operating strategies and multi-level black liquor injection.

A chemical recovery boilers is described in which the primary air system is reconfigured to provide aggressive charbed control and improved combustion in the lower furnace. The fewest number of primary air ports are used on two opposing walls to generate powerful air jets that penetrate across the boiler providing physical and thermal stability to the charbed while increasing the heat release and combustion stability in the lower furnace, increasing reduction efficiency, and lowering carryover and emissions. Various embodiments are described including operating strategies and multi-level black liquor injection.

A system (10) for treating spent pulping liquor (14) comprising lignin to provide green liquor (47) is disclosed. The system (10) comprises an evaporator (22), a recovery boiler (34), at least one filter (58, 74), and a green liquor plant (46). The evaporator (22) concentrates a first stream (18) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to provide a concentrated pulping liquor (30). The recovery boiler (34) incinerates the concentrated pulping liquor (30) to provide a smelt (42). The at least one filter (58, 74) filters a second stream (54) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to remove lignin therefrom to provide a permeate (66, 82). The green liquor plant (46) is for dissolving the smelt (42) from the recovery boiler (34) in the permeate (66, 82) from the at least one filter (58, 74) to provide green liquor (47). Also disclosed is a method for treating spent pulping liquor (14) to provide green liquor (47).

A system (10) for treating spent pulping liquor (14) comprising lignin to provide green liquor (47) is disclosed. The system (10) comprises an evaporator (22), a recovery boiler (34), at least one filter (58, 74), and a green liquor plant (46). The evaporator (22) concentrates a first stream (18) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to provide a concentrated pulping liquor (30). The recovery boiler (34) incinerates the concentrated pulping liquor (30) to provide a smelt (42). The at least one filter (58, 74) filters a second stream (54) of the spent pulping liquor (14) to remove lignin therefrom to provide a permeate (66, 82). The green liquor plant (46) is for dissolving the smelt (42) from the recovery boiler (34) in the permeate (66, 82) from the at least one filter (58, 74) to provide green liquor (47). Also disclosed is a method for treating spent pulping liquor (14) to provide green liquor (47).

The invention relates to a process for isolation of hemicelluloses from biomass pulping process waters or spent liquors with removal of suspended solids, concentration of the product and purification of the product by removal of inorganic salts and low molecular weight substances. It is characterized in that the hemicellulose isolation process conditions at several separation/purification stages are adjusted separately by e.g. pH adjustment. The invention further relates to a plant for carrying out the process. With such process and plant it is possible to recover most of the suspended solids, especially xylan and other hemicelluloses.

Various techniques are described for enhanced combustion of hot water extraction (HWE) derived liquor. For example, the HWE derived liquor can be pre-treated prior to introduction into a combustion chamber. The pre-treatment can include subjecting HWE derived liquor to filtration to remove suspended solids, evaporation to produce a first stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional concentration to produce a second stage concentrated HWE liquor; additional filtration to remove additional suspended solids; and pre-heating to produce a preheated HWE liquor. The preheated HWE liquor can be atomized and combined with pre-heated combustion air supplied into a combustion chamber to effect combustion of the HWE derived liquor.