The focus of this paper is to determine the extent to which printing paper quality issues are related to changes in incoming-fibre quality or to changes in processing when using beetle-killed wood.
This study is part of a series of research papers that explore the biological, social, and economic aspects of British Columbia's mountain pine beetle (MPB) epidemic. It presents the results of pilot plant Kraft and mechanical pulping trials that were conducted to determine the influence of time-since-death (TSD) of (MPB)-killed lodgepole pine on pulping and pulp quality. Samples included trees of red, grey and late grey attack stages as well as unattacked trees; sample sites were established in three different biogeoclimatic subzones in British Columbia in order to account for natural variability. Prior to pulping, samples were tested for wood and fibre properties as well as chip quality. Kraft and thermomechanical (TMP) pulping parameters were monitored, pulp quality was determined, and sheet structure was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy.--Includes text from document.
"The overall goal of this project is to determine the level of dry blue-stained wood chips and the level of grey-stage wood chips that can be economically utilized by BC mechanical pulp producers. The target objectives are two-fold: (1) to determine the maximum levels of dead, dry blue-stained and grey-stage lodgepole pine that can be economically utilized in BC mechanical pulp mills without detrimentally affecting processing and product quality; and (2) to evaluate the economic feasibility of presteaming, chemical impregnation pretreatment and refiner operation options for dry blue-stained and grey-stage lodgepole pine wood chip utilization."--Document.