Patent ID: RE41552

Claim:
An aqueous composition for improving properties of pulp produced, reducing the digester cycle time, or reducing the pulping or bleaching chemicals required in alkaline chemical pulping processes said composition comprising the alkaline composition of the digester of said process and at least one compound selected from the group consisting of phosphonates having the formula: X 2 NCH 2 PO 3 M 2 (I) in an amount, on an active acid basis, of from about 0.5% to about 1% based upon the dry weight of the wood chips in said digester, (II) phosphonates having the formula: in an amount, on an active acid basis, of from about 0.3% to about 1% based upon the dry weight of the wood chips in said digester, in an amount, on an active acid basis, of from about 0.5% 0 . 05 % to about 1% based upon the dry weight of the wood chips in said digester, and, on an active acid basis, from about 0.03% to about 1% of amine oxides of the phosphonates of formula (I), based upon the dry weight of wood chips in said digester, or mixtures thereof; wherein M is independently selected from hydrogen, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal or ammonium, X is independently selected from H, R, —CH 2 PO 3 M 2 wherein R is an alkyl group or —NX 2 substituted alkyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms, R′ is an alkyl group having 1 to 17 carbon atoms and R′ is optionally branched, optionally unsaturated, and optionally substituted with SO 3 M, Y is selected from —PO 3 M 2 , H or R′, and Z is selected from —OH or —NR 1 R 2 wherein R 1 and R 2 are independently selected from hydrogen or alkyl having 1 to 2 carbon atoms.