Patent ID: 8728274

Claim:
A method of treating an aqueous suspension of bleached pulp derived from an alkaline pulping process prior to papermaking, wherein the bleached pulp has a final pH in the range from about 7.5 to about 12, said method consisting of subjecting said bleached pulp to a dewatering step and dewatering said bleached pulp to a dry content of from about 20 to about 60 wt %, forming said dewatered pulp into a pulp web or pulp sheet, and drying said pulp web or pulp sheet to a dry content of from about 50 to about 100 wt % prior to papermaking, wherein the pH of the suspension during said dewatering and drying prior to papermaking is maintained in the range from about 7.5 to about 12, wherein the step of maintaining pH optionally includes adding at least one pH-adjusting chemical to the pulp before or during dewatering and/or drying, and wherein, optionally, at least one drainage chemical is added to the pulp before dewatering.