Abstract
This paper describes measurement of residence time distributions (RTD) of the liquid phase in an industrial-scale continuous pulp digester. The objective of the study was to quantify the degree of mixing of the liquid phase and optimization of operating conditions of digester. Technetium-99m (99mTc) was used as radiotracer to measure the RTD of liquid phase. A combined model was proposed for the simulation of experimental RTD curve. The quality parameter of pulping process was measured using chemical methods. From the comparison of pulping and mixing parameters the optimum operating condition of digester was identified.
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Acknowledgements
This study was carried out as a part of a research project sponsored by Board of Research in Nuclear Science (BRNS), Department of Atomic Energy, Mumbai India (Sanction No.: 35/14/33/2014-BRNS). The Authors of the manuscript express their thanks to management of M/s Trident Industries Limited, Barnala-148101, Punjab, India for providing necessary logistical support during the study. The authors also like to thanks Mr. S. A. Patil of Isotope and Radiation Application Division, BARC, Mumbai, India for help extended during the study.
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Goswami, S., Pant, H.J., Sheoran, M. et al. Residence time distribution measurements in an industrial-scale pulp digester using technetium-99m as radiotracer. J Radioanal Nucl Chem 323, 1373–1379 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06730-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10967-019-06730-3