What Is Black Liquor in Paper Making

Last week we learned that using steam to make wood pulp produces a by-product called Black Liquor. Just like coffee fuels us up on a Monday morning, black liquor fuels the paper making process.

Today on Steam Culture, Brent continues the path of paper from tree to sheet and how it all can be thanks to steam.

Did you know black liquor is burned in a boiler to create steam? It's burned in a recovery boiler, where the resulting steam is used to;

- produce heat and energy for the the paper-making process

- spin electric turbines that generate electricity for the paper mill

Leftover energy is sold back into the electrical grid for public use.

Burning a waste product like black liquor, to produce steam that generates electricity is called Cogeneration.

Key Terms:

Electricity

Steam

Steam Culture

Power

Steam boiler

White liquor

Black liquor

Green liquor

cogeneration

Wood

Paper products

Renewable energy sources

Earth resources

Boiler

Alternative energy sources