SEDIMENTATION BEHAVIOR OF VARIOUS PULP FIBERS

Abstract

Wood pulp fibers form floes which settle by “zone settling.” These fiber floes do not exhibit Stokes’ Law settling behavior. A new filtration model was developed. This model describes quite well the settling of most types of pulp fibers, and its application generates a parameter, K’, which can be used to monitor pulp refining. However, decrilled samples, i.e., pulp from which fines have been removed, do not follow the new model. More work is needed to understand the settling behavior of fines-free pulp.

KEYWORDS:

• Sedimentation
• Pulp fibers
• Filtration model
• Zone settling

Additional information

Notes on contributors

JOHN M. HAWES

Current address: Albany International, Inc., Box 1907, Albany, NY 12204.