AGAR CORPORATION

Process Measurement & Control Solutions

NOTE 12: PULP MILL

The manufacturing of Paper using the Kraft Mill process generates liquids called Black Liquor and Soap in the digester.
When the wood is cooked in the digester a caustic bath is used. The Black Liquor is the by-product from that process. The
Soap is a combination of resin and fatty acids which becomes Tall Oil when Acidified. Tall Oil is a product that the pulp mills
sell for a profit, and the removal of the Soap from the Black Liquor improves the performance of the evaporation process.

The Black Liquor and Soap mixture is condensed by evaporators to increase the total solids content of the solution. When
the solids content reaches 25 – 30%, the Soap is at the optimum concentration for separation. At this point a Soap tank is
used to separate the Black Liquor and Soap. These tanks utilize a long residence time to allow for separation and mechanical
skimmers to remove the Soap. In some plants, air is used to aid in the separation causing the Soap to foam.

Agar Probes are used to indicate the position of the Black Liquor and Soap interface. The Black Liquor is an aqueous
solution and provides a very high reading from the probe and looks like water to the Agar technology. The Soap being organic
provides a much lower reading. When the probe is positioned below the skimmers, the indication will allow the operators
to know whether they are skimming pure Soap or some Black Liquor.

A separate Agar probe can also be used to indicate the concentration of foam if air flotation is used.

The proper separation of these fluids benefits both the Black Liquor process as well as the Tall Oil production. The Soap in
the Black Liquor will reduce the efficiency of the concentration process thereby reducing the efficiency of the boiler recovery
operation.

Any extra Black Liquor in the Soap has a number of adverse affects on the Pulp Mill. First, a much larger amount of acid
must be used to neutralize the Soap in the Tall Oil processes. Second, the Black Liquor that is lost must be replaced by fresh
caustic at a direct expense to the plant. Third, the quality of the Tall Oil is reduced which lowers the selling price. Fourth,
the neutralization of the Black Liquor can release H2S, which is an environmental hazard.

After the Tall Oil is generated from the Soap, the Oil is stored first in a Wet tank (for water separation) and then second in
a Dry tank. In the Wet tank, an Agar probe can also be used to control the water separation.

APPLICATION NOTE 12
All Agar Corporation Instruments are covered by one or more of the following U.S. Patents: 4,503,383; 4,774,680; 5,099,697; 5,101,163; 5,101,367; 5,263,363;
5,503,004; 5,551,305; 5,589,642; 5,741,977, RE 36,597. Other patents pending in the USA and other countries.
 APPLICATION NOTE 12 - Pulp Mill

Another location in which an Agar probe can be of benefit is in the Turpentine process. Turpentine and water vapor are
recovered from the Digester relief gases. These gases are condensed, then turpentine is decanted from the water. Any
liquid that is mixed with these gases can cause emulsions to be generated in the decanter. The presence of these emulsions
make complete separation very difficult to control. Agar Interface Probes used in the decanting vessels will greatly increase
the operator’s ability to control the process. The Agar probes perform just the same in this process as in any other organic
/ aqueous separation with the Turpentine registering as the oil phase.

HEADQUARTERS - CAYMAN ISLAND: Agar Corporation, LTD - P.O. Box 10206 - Grand Cayman, BWI - KY1-1002 - Tel: (345) 945-5242 - ACL@agarcorp.com

USA CANADA VENEZUELA MALAYSIA SAUDI ARABIA ABU DHABI INDONESIA

Agar Corporation Agar Canada Corp Agarcorp de Venezuela C.A. AgarCorp SDN. BHD. AgarCorp (ACSA) Agar Corporation (ACAD) PT AgarCorp Indonesia
5150 Tacoma Drive Unit 406, 5723–10 St NE 77 Edif. 5 de Julio, Piso 4, Ofiicina 168-1st Fl Main Rd Salak S P.O. Box 1158 1505, Three Sails Tower Jalan Teratai CB-17
Houston, TX 77041 Calgary, AB T2E 8W7 D-4, Sector Tierra Negra, Zona 57100 Kuala Lumpur Al Khobar 31952 Corniche, Khalidiya Ciputat Baru, Ciputat
Tel: (832) 476-5100 Tel: (403) 718-9880 Postal 4002, Maracaibo, Edo. Zulia Tel: 603-7980-7069 Tel: 966-3-864-3011 Abu Dhabi, UAE Tangerang 15413
Fax: (832) 476-5299 Fax: (403) 450-8350 Tel: +58 261 324 5789 Fax: 603-7980-5369 Fax: 966-3-894-5837 Tel: 971-2681-1150 Tel: 62 21 7409206
ACI@agarcorp.com Sales@agarcorp.ca ADV@agarcorp.com ACSB@agarcorp.com ACSA@agarcorp.com ACAD@agarcorp.com PTAI@agarcorp.com

AGAR CORPORATION
www.agarcorp.com
© Agar Corporation Inc. All rights reserved. Specifications may be changed without notice.
ER No. 5485: ACI-A-7.2-DOC-022 Rev 01