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Abstract: This paper reports on the influence of independent variables in the pulping of olive wood trimmings [viz. cooking temperature (165–195°C) and time (30–90min), ethanolamine concentration (5–15%), soda concentration (2.5–7.5%) and liquid/solid ratio (4–6)], on the yield and kappa number of the pulps and breaking length, burst index and tear index of the resulting paper sheets. By using a central composite factorial design, equations that relate each dependent variable to the different independent variables were obtained that reproduced the experimental results for the dependent variables with errors less than 15%. These equations could be used to find the suitable operations conditions, so that operating with not too high values of operating variables (with the consequent minor costs of capital and of operation) pulps could be obtained by acceptable strength properties. Optimizing pulp yield, the kappa number and the strength properties of the resulting paper sheets entails using rather different conditions in each case. Obtaining acceptably strong paper sheets while saving on immobilized capital through the use of smaller facilities and less chemical reagents entails using a medium soda concentration and low values of all other independent variables. In this way, the yield is 22.2% lower, the kappa number 42.5% higher, and the breaking length, burst index and tear index 6.2, 29.1 and 29.6%, respectively, lower than their optimum values; in any case, the strength properties increase although the pulp was suitably refining. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Rainbow trout were exposed to a secondary treated, thermomechanical/bleached kraft pulp and paper effluent in 12,000-L, flow-through exposure tanks at an environmental research facility located at a pulp and paper mill in Kawerau, New Zealand. Trout (age, 21 years) were obtained from a local hatchery and exposed either to upstream river water or a nominal concentration of 12% (v/v) effluent diluted in upstream river water. Three treatment groups were used: Effluent exposure that started approximately three months before gonadal growth (eight-month total exposure), effluent exposure that started approximately halfway through gonadal development (two-month total exposure), and trout exposed to reference water alone for the total duration of the experiment. Trout were sacrificed just before spawning; exposure, growth, and reproductive endpoints were assessed during and at the termination of the experiment. Reduction in growth was observed in both sexes in the eight-month treatment group relative to the river water reference treatment group. No differences were observed in condition factor or liver size in either treatment. Females in the eight-month exposure group also had significantly lower ovary weight. The two-month exposure group showed no differences from the reference group in growth or somatic indices. Estradiol and testosterone were reduced in blood samples taken from the eight-month exposure group by four months into the experiment as compared to the reference treatment. Steroid and vitellogenin levels in individual female trout from this treatment were significantly correlated with gonadosomatic indices (GSI) measured at the termination of the experiment. The GSI was not correlated strongly or consistently with pregnenolone, nor were any treatment-related preg-nenolone differences observed, indicating that the steroid hormone reductions likely were not related to cholesterol side-chain cleavage. Male trout showed significant induction of vitellogenin and... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]