@ PCT [WORLD BVTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT) (Si) International Patent Casication 6 (41) International Publication Number: WO 96/41052 pau AL e320 (43) International Publication Date: 19 December 1996 (19.1296) (21) International Application Number: PCT/US96(09042 | (61) Designated Sites: AU, BR, CA, Fl, JP, MX, NO, US, European peten (AT, BE, CH, DE, DK, ES, FI, FR, GB, (22) International Fling Date: 7 June 1996 (070696) GR, IE, Tf, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE). Publishea 7 tune 1995 (079695) us With intrnaionl search report. (71) Applicant (for ail designated Stoes except US): ALCELI, "TECHNOLOGIES INC. [CAICA} 1250 Rene-Levesque Boulevard, West, Monteal, Quebec HSB 4W8 (CA). (72) Inventors; and (05) InventorsApplicants (or US only LORA, Iai, H {COUS], 7 Camby Chase, Meda, PA 19083 (US). WIN: NER, Stephen, R.[US/USI; 180 Matton Road, Boothvya, PA 19061 (US). GOYAL, Gopal, C. [INUS), 1003 23rd Sweet, Cloquet, MN 55720 (US). (04) Agent: HEIDELBERGER, Lous, M,; Reed Smith Shaw & MeCley, 2500 One Litery Place, 1650 Market Steet, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7301 (US) (G4 Tite: MODIFIED ORGANOSOLV PULPING "= pO 2» Le} srenane a =] 100. w. <2 rexowe z 8s x £ 0 | i n 50 a a a y ig é Recovery {~~ $O-PRapucTS 1 s | Tt wwrescranon Po] 5 18 oo Ltd np Pup ecovery {—" ausonon 2 (67) Abstract A method and apparatus for producing pulp (95) from fibrous plant materials (10). The method comprises the step of pulping (100) the fibrous material with a cooking solvent of a lower aliphatic alcohol and an additive mixture comprising atleast one editve selective ‘rom the group consisting of sulfite sls, bsulte salts and caustic.‘FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY Codes used to identify tates party to the PCT on the front pages of parmpiets publi applications under the PCT. Aa Amis 6B nied Kington MW Nats av hala CE Geagin MX Masco AU Aseeln GX Gain NE Niger Bs etado, GR Grace NL Neteans BE Belgas HU Hapa NO Normy Bota Fue ind NZ New Zoe BG Bulg hay PL Pond By Bene 2 loee Pr Pome BR Beal Ke Keys RO Romani BY Beloee KG Kyran RU Rin Feerson cA Cause KP Dena Pop's Repic > Salen CE Ceara Afcan Rpuc Koes SE Sten CC Congo KR Repu of Kora 86 Seas CH Swantind KZ Kenkhaan SX Sven Che ehoe Lect SK Shoals cM Cmenon LK Stank SN Ser cine LR Lets SZ Swuniud 3 Cantorbvala UP thia ™ Gat Cones Rec WO Canembou, 1S Topo DE Germany vy Lav D Telite DK Denk MC Meno TT Td md Tobago HE eons MD Reb of Motions UA Unie BS Spin MG Maigscar UG Upmds Prine ML Mal US Une Sees of Aescn FR Fame MN Monga UZ Unie cA Gon MMR Mr WN VieNam10 15 20 25 30 Wo 96/41052 PCT/US96/09942 DIF: ios NG BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Current environmental concerns dictate the production of pulp with a low kappa number with a re- sulting decrease in the amount of bleaching chemicals used to bleach the pulp. In the case of kraft hardwood pulps, kappa numbers are obtained in the range of from about 12 to 20. Alternatively, in the case of organosolv pulps obtained with an autocatalyzed organosolv pulping Process such as the ALCELLR process as described in Lora et al. in U.S. Patent No. 4,764,596 or Diebold et al. in U.S. Patent No. 4,100,016, kappa numbers are obtained typically in the range of from about 20 to 30 with pulping of mixtures of North American hardwoods of about 50% maple, 35% birch and 15% poplar. Generally, organosolv pulps have superior bleachability due, among other reasons, to the structure of residual lignin and the low metal content of the pulp which results in a highly selective response to alkaline extraction and/or oxygen delignification and other bleaching chemicals. This results in a reduction of kappa number and brightening without significant subsequent strength losses. © For certain wood species and feedstocks, however, the conditions needed for achieving bleachable level kappa numbers may lead to a decrease in strength. As a result even though selective delignification and brightening are performed, the pulp strength properties of the final bleached product may be lower than optimum. In the case of autocatalyzed organosolv pulping of dense hardwoods such as, for example, maple, the cooking conditions resulting in kappa numbers in the range of from about 40 to 50 are relatively severe. such