Technical Bulletin No. 0069: Preliminary Report on Production of Acetic Acid from Semi-chemical Spent Liquors

Since the bulk of the oxygen demand of neutral sulfite semi-chemical spent pulping liquor is due to acetates, in which this liquor is relatively rich, research was conducted at the Council’s Virginia Polytechnic Institute project on recovery of acetic acid. TWO processes were developed in the laboratory by which successful acetic acid recovery was accomplished.  The report includes, together with description and evaluation of the processes, cost data and a market survey for acetic acid; assistance rendered on this project by the technical directors of several companies in preparing this report is acknowledged.