Near-infrared Spectroscopy – collected applications for the pulp and paper industry

Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been used in the pulp and paper industry to determine moisture content in wood chips, kraft pulp yield, paper coating parameters and more, quickly and without using chemicals. Metrohm offers a collection of several applications for the straightforward analysis of many processes in the pulping and papermaking sector. Transferability between different NIRS systems is simple, allowing some laboratory methods to be utilized directly in the process for more control.

In the pulp and paper industry, NIR applications provide qualitative and quantitative information about incoming timber materials and lignin content. Discriminant NIR analysis can be used to determine species, hardwoods from softwoods, and sapwoods from heartwoods. Common paper and pulp attributes measured with NIRS include: kappa number, lignin content, kraft pulp yield, tall oil, moisture, resin, brightness, wood species, hardwood/softwood ratio, coatings, and component analysis (clay, titanium dioxide, fillers, ash, etc.).