Method and control system are provided for controlling values of process parameters of a pretreatment process of wood particles. A sampler is used to obtain a sample of a product flow of said pretreatment process after said wood particles have undergone steam explosion in a hemihydrolysis reactor. A particle measurement device is used to measure one or more characteristics of particles in said sample and to produce one or more pieces of measurement information indicative of the measured characteristics. Said one or more pieces of measurement information are used to select one or more values of one or more of said process parameters.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, is used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a veneer surface. A grade is then assigned to the veneer based, at least in part, on the detected irregularities. In one embodiment, the veneer is then provided to an improved veneer stacking system that produces more consistently graded veneer stacks and safer veneer stacks, is less expensive to operate, and is far safer than currently available methods and systems for full veneer sheet, veneer strip, and partial veneer sheet stacking.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, is used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a veneer surface. A grade is then assigned to the veneer based, at least in part, on the detected irregularities. In one embodiment, the veneer is then provided to an improved veneer stacking system that produces more consistently graded veneer stacks and safer veneer stacks, is less expensive to operate, and is far safer than currently available methods and systems for full veneer sheet, veneer strip, and partial veneer sheet stacking.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, is used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a veneer sheet or other wood product. Based on the identified surface irregularities for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.

A method (10) for ethanol-based extraction of soluble wood components. Wood is prepared (12), and chipped (18) to provide wood chips. The wood chips and a liquid are mixed (20) in a container to provide a mixture. After waiting (22) for a specified time, RF energy is applied (26) to the mixture while controlling (28) at least one an RF power level, a temperature of the mixture, a time of application of the RF energy, or a speed of a pump which is circulating the liquid in the mixture. The mixture is then cooled (30), the liquid and the components are removed (32) from the container, and are filtered (36) to provide a filtered extract. The wood may be heated (14) such as by charring and/or toasting before being chipped. Oxygen may be added (34) to the liquid and the components removed from the container before being filtered.

A transformation of an existing, conventional southern yellow pine (SYP) lumber pressure treatment plant that previously impregnated wood with non-sustainable chemicals, to using environmentally friendly sodium silicate formulations. The transformation may include adding heated storage tanks for solutions of siliceous solutions and adding a heater to an existing storage tank, installing delivery lines capable of handling high pH, viscous solutions between at least the pre-existing vacuum pressure impregnation tank and the added or existing heated storage tank, a CO.sub.2 storage tank with associated vaporizer and a CO.sub.2 recovery system, associated lines to and from the pre-existing vacuum pressure impregnation tank and the CO.sub.2 storage tank and the CO.sub.2 recovery system, pumps for circulating the solutions, and a thermal management system including: insulation and cladding on one or more of the tanks and lines, heat tracing on all level indicators; and insertion of heating coils in working tanks.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, and machine learning methods and systems, including one or more Machine Learning (ML) based surface irregularity prediction models, are used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a wood product, such as a veneer sheet or ribbon, and provide irregularity prediction data for the wood product. Based on the irregularity prediction data for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or the production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, are used to detect irregularity in the surface of a wood product. Based on the detected irregularities at various locations in a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to a production process used to produce the wood product to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, is used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a veneer sheet or other wood product. Based on the identified surface irregularities for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.

Near InfraRed NIR technology, including NIR cameras and detectors, and machine learning methods and systems, including one or more Machine Learning (ML) based surface irregularity prediction models, are used to accurately identify surface irregularities on a surface of a wood product, such as a veneer sheet or ribbon, and provide irregularity prediction data for the wood product. Based on the irregularity prediction data for a given wood product, one or more actions are taken with respect to wood product or the production process to ensure the wood product is put to the most efficient, effective, and valuable use.