Improved steady-state models for chlorine dioxide delignification sequences that include washer carryover effects

Abstract

In previous studies, generalized steady-state models were proposed to approximate the chlorine dioxide demand needed for the delignification of softwood and hardwood pulps, where the kappa number entering the bleach plant can fluctuate. However, these expressions neglect the effect of dissolved solids with the stock that originate from incomplete pulp washing. In this study, the original elemental chlorine-free (ECF) models are modified to include the effects of carryover from brownstock or post-oxygen washing. The stoichiometric bleach consumption from carryover, based on its composition, was calculated from various literature sources. The majority of the bleach demand (about 70%) results from the dissolved lignin contained in the brownstock carryover, with the remainder resulting from the inorganic sulfur constituents (e.g., sulfide and thiosulfate). When the effect of brownstock carryover was taken into account, the modified models accurately predicted the amount of chlorine dioxide consumed for a given delignification level (about ±0.1% chlorine dioxide) vs. actual bleach plant data. The improved models can be used to gauge the level of washer carryover entering the bleach plant if this parameter is not regularly monitored by the mill. Additionally, these modified expressions could be integrated into advanced process control strategies for ECF bleaching where the washer carryover or dissolved lignin entrainment is measured with online sensors.