1. Disintegration

The aim of this disintegration (or pulping) phase is to separate the fibers from each other, so as to obtain a homogeneous fibrous suspension.

When the pulp is manufactured in the mill itself (integrated mill or using recovered paper), this suspension phase is not necessary. In the case of non-integrated mills, i.e. when raw materials are purchased externally, pulp usually arrives in the form of bales, made up of pulp sheets with a moisture content of around 10%. These sheets must be disintegrated and suspended in water.

This operation is generally carried out in cylindrical containers (pulpers) equipped with toothed or bladed rotors, capable of creating...