The present invention relates to processes for extracting lignin from black liquor. In particular, processes for both extracting acidic lignin and extracting alkaline lignin from black liquor are disclosed, comprising: precipitating lignin by acidification of black liquor; adjusting the temperature to above 60° C.; cooling; separation; and displacement washing and/or washing by ion exchange.

Process for upgrading effluent treatment plants for pulp and paper production processes, where salts are removed from the effluent for water reuse and chemical recovery. The process comprises a first dialysis system for salt removal, a second treatment system for recovery or re-concentration, and optionally a post-treatment of the re-concentrate preventing liquid discharges to the environment. In the first system, a reversible electrodialysis or reversible pulsed step is carried out, separating the salts from the effluent, which are sent to the second treatment system to concentrate the salts (re-concentrate) or transform them into useful chemicals for the same process (recovery). Chemical recovery is achieved by electrodialysis with bipolar membranes or metathesis, to reduce the re-concentrate stream, which cannot be reused in the same plant. Lastly, this stream may be treated by spray drying, crystallization or evaporation.

The present invention is related to a method for: reducing metals content in a Kraft pulping process comprising adding magnesium to a black liquor that is returned to the pulping operation; reducing aluminum content in a pulping process by adding magnesium to the black liquor to provide a green liquor having a specific molar ratio of magnesium:aluminum; producing or treating a green liquor having a specific molar ratio of magnesium:aluminum by adding magnesium to the black, weak black, strong black liqueurs; and producing hydrotalcite by the addition of at least 0.04-5.0 mols of magnesium:aluminum present at the weak black, strong black liqueurs, or a combination thereof. It is also provided a pulp mill comprising a digester (1), a washer (2), an optionally pulp bleaching, a weak black liquor concentrator (4), among other parts.

A method of treating fly ash containing sodium sulfate from a recovery boiler of a chemical pulp mill. This method includes at least the following steps: a) ash is dissolved in an aqueous solution and the pH of the solution is adjusted with alkali for precipitating impurities, b) the solution is filtered for removing the impurities containing precipitate, c) sodium sulfate is crystallized from the solution and the crystals are separated from the solution by filtering or by centrifugation, and d) the crystallized sodium sulfate is used as initial material for producing sodium and sulfur containing chemicals or as process chemical.

The invention relates to a process for the isolation of components from plant material of Miscanthus. The process comprises three subsequent extractions. The first extraction yields an extract comprising one or more compounds selected from the group of antioxidants, polyphenols, proteins, sterols, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and aromatic compounds. Thereafter, the plant material is subjected to two extractions with a metal hydroxide (e.g. NaOH), the first performed at a lower pH than the second. These steps yield a sugar fraction and a Iignin fraction, respectively. Finally, from the residue after the third extraction, cellulose is isolated.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of replacing with sodium make-up chemicals sodium losses caused by outflows in a pulp mill which employs a kraft process for producing cellulosic pulp, wherein the pulp mill includes a unit for conversion of sulphurous compounds, which is fed with sulphurous substances of the kraft process to convert said sulphurous substances into oxidized sulphurous compounds, said method comprising using sodium sulphate possibly together with other sodium salts as the main make-up chemical, to achieve an essentially sodium hydroxide free feed of sodium make-up chemicals, and at least a part of the sulphur contained in the sodium sulphate make-up chemical being used for producing oxidized sulphurous compounds in said unit for conversion of sulphurous compounds.

The invention relates to a process for the isolation of components from plant material of Miscanthus. The process comprises three subsequent extractions. The first extraction yields an extract comprising one or more compounds selected from the group of antioxidants, polyphenols, proteins, sterols, acids, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and aromatic compounds. Thereafter, the plant material is subjected to two extractions with a metal hydroxide (e.g. NaOH), the first performed at a lower pH than the second. These steps yield a sugar fraction and a lignin fraction, respectively. Finally, from the residue after the third extraction, cellulose is isolated.

A method of treating fly ash containing sodium sulfate from a recovery boiler of a chemical pulp mill. This method includes at least the following steps: a) ash is dissolved in an aqueous solution and the pH of the solution is adjusted with alkali for precipitating impurities, b) the solution is filtered for removing the impurities containing precipitate, c) sodium sulfate is crystallized from the solution and the crystals are separated from the solution by filtering or by centrifugation, and d) the crystallized sodium sulfate is used as initial material for producing sodium and sulfur containing chemicals or as process chemical.

A method of utilizing lignin-containing material separated from spent kraft pulping liquor including: acidifying the liquor to a pH not less than seven thereby precipitating solid particles, separating precipitated solid particles from the accompanying liquid, and subjecting the separated precipitated solid particles to a washing process in which: the separated precipitated solid particles are washed with an aqueous medium or aqueous media in one or more washing steps, in each one of the washing steps, the aqueous washing medium contains, in a dissolved form, significant amounts of one or more added sodium salts, and a combined concentration of the added sodium salts in the washing medium in each of the washing step exceeds three percent by weight; and utilizing as fuel in a lime kiln at least part of the washed lignin-containing material is utilized as fuel in a lime kiln of a pulp mill.

A method for removing inorganic salts from an alcoholic basic lignin solution, comprising the steps of adding an acid to said solution whereby an alcoholic lignin solution is formed, and separating a precipitate comprising an inorganic precipitate from said solution, and a method for separating lignin from an alcoholic basic lignin solution, comprising the steps of adding an acid to said solution whereby an alcoholic lignin solution is formed, separating a precipitate comprising an inorganic precipitate from said solution, removing ethanol from said solution, optionally adjusting the pH of the mixture obtained, and separating lignin from said mixture, and, a method for avoiding foaming during alcohol recovery from an alcoholic mixture comprising lignin, optionally after separation of an inorganic precipitate, which method is characterized in that a pH of 2 to 9 of the alcoholic mixture is adjusted during alcohol recovery