Provided is method for evaluating a cellulose nanofiber (CNF) dispersion, the method including: (1) a step of preparing 1.0 mass % of a CNF aqueous dispersion; (2) a step of adding a coloring material into the CNF aqueous solution and stirring with a vortex mixer; (3) a step of sandwiching a film of the coloring material-containing CNF aqueous dispersion between two glass plates such that said film has a thickness of 0.15 mm; (4) a step of observing, with a microscope, the film of the coloring material-containing CNF aqueous dispersion sandwiched between the two glass plates; (5) a step of sorting observed aggregates by size (diameter along major axis) thereof; and (6) a step of calculating a CNF dispersion index from the number of sorted aggregates and evaluating the dispersibility of the CNF aqueous dispersion.

Herein provided are methods for evaluating cellulose nanofiber dispersions, comprising the steps of: (1) preparing a cellulose nanofiber dispersion; (2) adding a color material into the cellulose nanofiber dispersion; and (3) observing the cellulose nanofiber dispersion to which a colored pigment has been added with a light microscope. The methods allow for easy evaluation of whether or not agglomerates of cellulose nanofibers exist in cellulose nanofiber dispersions, which cannot be visually determined.

Vibration sensors can be used in paper making systems and methods to determine various aspects of the paper making operation. Vibration sensors, for example, positioned on cleaning blades configured to clean various deposits off of rollers in a paper making system can output vibration data that can be indicative of the vibration of the blade. The vibration data can be analyzed in order to characterize the cause of the vibration and/or the location of the vibration within a paper making system. If the vibration data satisfies a predetermined condition, a corrective action can be initiated. Different corrective actions can be initiated based on the characterized cause and/or location of the vibration in order to effectively improve the operation of the system while minimizing costly system shut downs and major maintenance.

A system and method are provided for predictive control of brown stock treatment at a pulp mill. Various online sensors generate output signals representative of actual values for respective process characteristics, each of which are directly or indirectly affected by adjustments to corresponding process variables. A controller uses the output signals or associated measurement data to dynamically set target values for the process characteristics based on a predicted impact of control responses for corresponding process variables. The controller further generates control signals to actuators associated with the respective process variables based on detected variations between the respective actual values and target values. Exemplary brown stock washing control systems may optimize various types of brown stock washing configurations, including for example vacuum drum washers, compaction baffle washers, chemiwashers, direct displacement washers and wash presses. Cloud-based analytics and machine learning may also be implemented to improve the control algorithms over time.

A method is disclosed for predicting the microbial status of a paper or board making process and/or quality of the dry board or paper obtained from the process for controlling microbial status of a paper or board making process or quality of the dry board or paper obtained from the process. Surface level and duration of time in at least one storage tower or pulper are monitored and correlated with respective predetermined values for the tower or pulper in order to predict the risk of microbial activity.

A method for determining a property of a fiber suspension comprises obtaining a sample and diluting the sample by a first dilution, thereby providing a diluted sample, while retaining essentially all of the sample, and mixing the diluted sample, thereby providing a mixed, diluted sample. By removing part of the mixed, diluted sample and retaining an amount of the mixed, diluted sample, further diluting the mixed, diluted sample by adding dilution water to the retained amount of the mixed, diluted sample, thereby providing a further diluted sample, while retaining essentially all of the mixed, diluted sample, mixing the further diluted sample, thereby providing a mixed, further diluted sample, and repeating these steps until the concentration is suitable for measuring the property of the further diluted sample, this property can be measured with high accuracy. A device for determining a property to be determined of a suspension is also provided.

The objective of the present disclosure is to provide a method for easily evaluating the degree of cleanliness of recycled material derived from used sanitary products. The evaluation method according to the present disclosure has the following configuration. This method for evaluating a degree of cleanliness of recycled material derived from used sanitary products includes: a preparation step of preparing a dispersed aqueous solution in which the recycled material is dispersed in water a separation step of subjecting the dispersed aqueous solution to centrifugal separation to separate the dispersed aqueous solution into a liquid component and a solid component; and a measuring step of measuring the concentration of protein in the liquid component using a protein measuring means.

A polymer detection probe is provided that includes a binding module that specifically binds to at least one polymer and a reporter module that is spectroscopically detectable. The binding module can be a carbohydrate-binding module (CBM). The reporter module can be a fluorescent protein. A complex is provided that includes a probe specifically bound to a pulp or paper product including at least one surface available lignocellulosic polymer. A pulp or paper product is provided that includes at least one surface available lignocellulosic polymer and at least one probe bound thereto. Methods are provided that employ a lignocellulosic probe. A method of detecting a lignocellulosic polymer or other type of polymer is provided. A method of determining the effectiveness of an industrial treatment on pulp or a paper product is also provided. A method of determining a physical property of pulp or a paper product is further provided.

A device for sampling, preparing and analysing a sample, for example a suspension, comprises: a sampling device adapted to sampling a fluid sample, at least one sample preparation unit adapted to prepare the sample, and at least one analysing unit. By adapting the device for sampling and analysing a sample for placement in direct vicinity to a process pipe and adapting the sampling device to sample a fluid sample directly from a gate, a compact and cost-efficient device is provided, which also provides fast feedback to a process to be controlled.

A method is disclosed for predicting the microbial status of a paper or board making process and/or quality of the dry board or paper obtained from the process for controlling microbial status of a paper or board making process or quality of the dry board or paper obtained from the process. Surface level and duration of time in at least one storage tower or pulper are monitored and correlated with respective predetermined values for the tower or pulper in order to predict the risk of microbial activity.