This presentation reviews fundamental process concepts and steps involved in BCTMP pulping of hardwoods, and compares different basic concepts in BCTMP processes. Discussions will be made on how different chemical treatment and different refining strategies can help reduce energy consumption. Results from a commercial mill trial that compared high consistency refining (HCR) and low consistency refining (LCR) after primary refining, will be presented, which showed significant energy reduction from LCR without any significant effect on development of main pulp properties. Some of the latest trends in HWD BCTMP process design are also presented and discussed.

Eric Xu received his Ph. D. in 1992 and worked at Andritz R&D center since 1995, currently as principal scientist and director of process and technology. He has worked on various mechanical and chemi-mechanical pulping process technologies on a wide range of different raw materials (wood and non-wood fibers), including pilot plant and commercial mill trials, and on a number of BCTMP mill start-up and optimization projects. He has developed three patents on BCTMP technologies (P-RC APMP and its improvements). He received Douglas Atack Award by CPPA (PAPTAC) Mechanical Pulping Committing (1996 & 1997) for best papers in mechanical pulping at PAPTAC annual meeting, has been key-note speaker for 10 different international technical conferences world-wide, and presented more than 60 technical papers at professional and technical conferences since 1996.