October 10, 2009 - October 13, 2009

Innovations in Energy, Fiber and Compliance

The 2009 TAPPI EPE Conference will feature an excellent peer-reviewed technical program, trade fair and great networking – all within walking distance of Beale Street!

Revisit the 2008 Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference

Technical Program
The 2009 sessions will include:

• Global Market Factors Affecting Pulp and Paper Technologies
• Non-wood Fiber and Processing Innovations
• Fiber Supply, Quality, Consistency, Process Yields
• Recycling
• Bleaching and 02 Delignification
• Reducing Water Usage for Pulping and Bleaching
• Improving Reliability and Asset Management
• Optimizing Chemical Recovery
• Corrosion and Materials Engineering
• Process Simulation and Control
• Steam and Power - How to save energy and reduce costs
• Biorefinery Operations
• Biomass Conversion
• Thermochemical and Biochemical Approaches
• Air Quality and Permitting
• Water and Wastewater Issues
• Ecolabeling
• Carbon Footprinting

TAPPI’s 2009 EPE Conference answers the most pressing business and technical questions faced by pulp and paper companies as they manage raw materials, assets, regulatory requirements and production options. There’s no better place to promote your newest offering than the New Technology Showcase.

The 2009 Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference will once again be in conjunction with the International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference held October 14-16, 2009.

ASD Technical Presentation:

Rapid at-line and on-line determination of pulp mill process variables

Presenter: Brian Curtiss

Abstract
Near Infrared (NIR) reflectance spectroscopy is being used increasingly as a technique to provide information necessary to optimize the pulp making process. Material properties of interest are related to measured reflectance using statistical techniques. The advantage of the technique is the speed of measurement and the ability to perform non-contact
measurements. Analyzer systems have been developed for both at-line and over-theconveyor on-line installations. The development of an NIR calibration involves five step:

1. a set of samples with known physical or chemical properties is assembled;
2. the NIR reflectance spectra of this sample set are collected;
3. the spectra and the properties of interest are correlated using one of several multivariate techniques;
4. the reliability of each calibration is validated;
5. the validated calibrations are used to predict properties of interest for unknown samples. Examples presented include: at-line analysis of pulp kappa and brightness; on-line analysis of lime mud moisture and color; and, on-line analysis of wood chip moisture and blue-stain.