TAPPI Meets in New Orleans

TAPPI Meets in New Orleans A STAFF REPORT

J \ s atmosphere of whole-hearted cooper­ation pervaded t h e meeting of the Tech­nical Association of the Pulp and Paper Indus t ry held in New Orleans. The repre­sentatives of the industry who gathered for this second national meeting sponsored by the Alkaline Pulping and Chemical Products Committees succeeded admirably in their fixed purpose to get down to a rock-bottom consideration of their com­mon problems and then share their solutions to these problems. There was constant at­tendance a t all t h e sessions of the 200 reg­istered at T A P P I headquarters at the Roosevelt Hotel, and interest in the papers was evidenced by the discussions.

In symposium form, a consideration of sulfate pulp washing occupied,half of the technical session, Oct. 14 and 5. "*lant layouts in connection with various sys­tems of washing and the problems en­countered in these systems were discussed, with comparisons of the operation of dif­fuses , screw presses, and rotary pulp washers. P . J. Hannan of the Southern Advance Bag and Paper Co. admitted t h a t the open-top diffuser was equipment to be used only if already installed, its only advantage being in somewhat greater throughput . A. J. Suter, chairman for the symposium, in presenting the experience of the Gay lord Container Corp. , described the experimentation leading to t he con­clusion t h a t rotary pulp washers a re su­perior to closed diffuser systems and are much more flexible and dependable.

All the symposium participants were in agreement tha t the major problems in sulfate pulp washing were the removal and recovery of as much soda as possible and t h e production of a clean pulp. 11. C. Richter established as t h e first prerequi­site in planning a study of washing ef­ficiency the evolving of a satisfactory method for determination of the total residual soda in the pulp, and discussed the magnesium uranium acetate method of Scott as used by the National Container Corp., giving a detailed description of t he methods of sampling and testing. M. Klein of the Union Bag and Paper Corp.

Savannah, Ga.. confirmed the views of previous speakers tha t increased water temperature results in better rotary wash­ing and tha t t he hardness of pulp has a definite bearing on • efficiency of washing. General opinion seemed to indicate that , while screw-type washers are satisfactory, they are not elastic enough in operation.

Among the general papers a discussion of the collection of sulfate turpentine by \V. P. Lawrence of Champion Paper and Fibre Co., Canton, N. C , was of consider­able interest, clue to the fact tha t his pres­entations were the summary of question­naire answers from 24 mills. Mr. Law­rence stated that the chemical products of the sulfate pulping industry have grown steadily in importance, and t h a t while production of gum spirits has just as steadily dropped and that of steam-dis­tilled wood turpentine showed no gain, sulfate turpentine amounts to 2 3 % of this country's total production. In out­lining a fairly standardized method of collection, he indicated that the chief op­erating problems lay in the formation of emulsions and the corrosion of storage equipment. Emulsions could be pre­vented, Mr. Lawrence pointed out, by using greater care in relieving digesters and by using two separators in series. S. G. Norton of Hercules Powder Co. ob­served tha t corrosion did not occur in full tanks, b u t was generally found in the vapor space above the turpentine in stor­age tanks not completely filled. He pro­posed stainless steel, Everdur, or nickel for storage of crude sulfate turpentines, stating tha t corrosion is probably a more universal problem than is realized and could be attr ibuted to volatile sulfur com­pounds.

Nomographs for t h e calculation of fuel and soda value of tall oil skimmings were presented by Paul R. Wiley of the West Virginia P u l p and Paper Co. of Charles­ton, S. C. Mr . Wiley called these a prac­tical basis for computing values of skim­mings, tak ing into account fuel and chemi­cal equivalents and changing prices, par­ticularly useful where actual da ta on tall

oil yield and black liquor solids arc not available. A short résumé o( t h e present s ta tus of ASTM methods of testing tal l oil was give»!. In general, the results of the physical tests made hy 13 laboratories participating in comparative work on t h e tentative methods were good, -while t h e chemical tests were not satisfactory. Samples will again be sent out, with em­phasis on electrometric inctho>ds where such are applicable.

W . F. Gillespie, technical director of the Gaylord Container Cor])., and general

Above. Chemical Pro flue ts Com­mittee: W. P. Laivrence, Champion Paper & Fibre Co., It. II. Stevens, chairman, National Container Corp., arid It. A. Morgan, University of Florida. Below. Back ro-τν. Mrs. liraun, It. tl. Stevens* Mrs. Alfred Suter, Kenneth (Zhesley^ chairman, Alkaline Pulping Committee. Front row. Mrs. W. F- Gillespie, ,/. ΙΓ. Hemphill, and IP". F. Gillespie

chairman of the meeting, gave a de­tailed study entitled "Jordan Refining of Southern Sulfate P u l p " . Though the li terature is not extensive, Mir. Gillespie outlined experimental work done in de­termining the refining to be ixsed in con­junction with a new 196-inch trim Four-drinier machine. Taking data on a Miami No . 2 Jordan, some of the conclusions were t h a t consistency should be reasonably high, applied power as great a s practical, throughput at 3 . 5% not more than about 750 gallons a minute, and. the quantity of alum added before refining held to a prac­tical minimum.

A tour through the plant of the Gaylord Corp. a t Bogalusa, La., took place o n the third day. Highlight of* the banquet was a. talk by TAPPE President G. W . E . Nicholson, on his recent experiences as one of the distinguished American technical men invited to tour Scandinavia as guests of the Swedish government.

Left. S van Fralgren, Hi rd Machine Co., J. li. Ho man 9 A. E.Staley Mfg. Co., It. C. Macdonuld, secretary, TAPPI. Right. E. L. Cowan* Gaylord Container Corp., Alfred Suter, symposium chairman., and G. IV. E. iVicholson, TAPPI president

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