WO1994020673A1

WO1994020673A1 - Method of bleaching pulp with chlorine-free chemicals

Info

Publication number: WO1994020673A1
Application number: PCT/FI1993/000222
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kaj Henricson; Bertil Stromberg
Original assignee: A. Ahlstrom Corporation
Priority date: 1993-03-03
Filing date: 1993-05-25
Publication date: 1994-09-15
Also published as: JPH08509781A; CA2157109C; AU5370594A; ES2186948T3; ES2130260T3; CA2157109A1; DE69323566T2; ATE176808T1; JP3276083B2; FI954093A0; BR9307858A; NO953444D0; FI934036A0; EP0884415A1; FI930954A0; EP0687321A1; NO953444L; FI934036L; FI954093A; PT884415E

Abstract

Kraft pulp is bleached to an acceptable brightness (e.g. 86 ISO or more) without using chlorinated organic compounds, yet the strength of the produced pulp remains commercially acceptable. In the manufacture of pulp, the pulp which is cooked and oxygen delignified to a kappa number of 14 or less, and then is bleached with ozone at a medium consistency. After the ozone treatment, heavy metals are removed from the pulp, and then the pulp is led to oxygen and/or peroxide treatment, which is followed by a second ozone bleaching stage. The sequence (ZT) (EOP) (ZP) is preferred.

Description

METHOD OF BLEACHING PULP WITH CHLORINE-FREE CHEMICALS

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new kind of a bleaching method for pulp by using chlorine-free chemicals. The invention is especially related to ozone bleaching of pulp without preceding removal of heavy metals.

Different regulations and marketing requirements have set higher and higher demands on producers of kraft pulp to decrease or completely eliminate organic chlorine compounds in pulp products and effluents from bleaching. In order to be able to fulfill these demands the use of chlorine gas or any other compound containing chlorine (e.g. chlorine dioxide) should be avoided. When avoiding the use of chlorine-based bleaching chemicals, it is extremely difficult to obtain the desired brightness especially if the manufactured pulp has been given acceptable strength requirements. Consequently, lignin must be removed, for example, with oxygen. By using multi-stage oxygen delignification advantages have been achieved in delignification and in selectivity, especially when chelating is added to limit the amount of harmful metallic ions, and especially when between stage washing is included in the process (see US-patent 4,946,556). Practical hindrances, however, restrict both the delignification and the quality of the pulp produced merely by oxygen delignification, especially if followed by an ozone bleaching stage.

So far a common and typical purpose of chlorine-free bleaching methods has been to remove heavy metals from the pulp as completely as possible prior to ozone treatment, since heavy metals are known to destroy ozone. Typical bleaching sequences by which pulp has earlier been bleached, are, for example, OOAZEZPZ, OAZEZPZ, OOAZEZP and OAZEZP. These sequences thus include one or more oxygen bleaching stages (O) , an A-stage (acid washing), an ozone stage (Z), an extraction stage (E), a second ozone stage (Z) and a peroxide stage (P), and possibly a third ozone stage (Z). In the acid stage (A) prior to the first ozone stage heavy metals are removed, which are flushed away, when a portion of the wash filtrate is removed. The extraction stage (E) may be an oxidizing peroxide extraction stage or a conventional oxidizing extraction stage. The ozone bleaching stages are preferably carried out with pulp having the consistency of about 5-18%.

It is characteristic of the above mentioned sequences that they include at least five washing stages, in other words bleaching stages alternate with washing stages, i.e. washers, by which the chemicals separated from the fibers as reaction products or otherwise in each bleaching stage are removed from the suspension. Since the washers form a considerable part of the investment costs in a bleaching plant, the number of the washers should, of course, be limited as much as possible, if it is only possible without risking the quality of the final product.

In the same connection chemicals necessary for some bleaching reactions, such as magnesium (Mg), are also removed from the pulp, which requires addition of magnesium subsequent to the ozone treatment.

On the other hand, the previously used chlorine has also prevented a screening stage subsequent to bleaching from being combined with the bleaching plant, because in chlorine bleaching the screening and/or vortex cleaning treatment of pulp would lead to serious corrosion problems. Thus it has been necessary to carry out the vortex cleaning and/or screening as a separate stage. A conventional bleaching + screening plant has thus included four or five bleaching stages and one screening and/or vortex cleaning stage, which the washing stage separates from each other. The present invention compresses these five to six stages into three stages and thus almost halves the investment costs of a bleaching plant and a screening plant.

By utilizing the present invention it is possible to eliminate the above mentioned disadvantages occuring with the removal of heavy metals and the omission of screening in the prior art technique. At the same time a bleaching plant is provided, which includes only three washing stages.

It is characteristic of the method in accordance with the present invention that pulp is bleached with a sequence beginning with ozone and without the removal of heavy metals preceding the ozone stage.

It is characteristic of another embodiment of the method in accordance with the present invention that pulp is bleached with a three-stage sequence (ZT) (EOP) (ZP) without the removal of heavy metals preceding the sequence, in which

- (ZT) refers to a bleaching stage with ozone, which also includes treatment of heavy metals and which stage is followed by washing and/or thickening,

- (EOP) refers to a bleaching stage with peroxide or oxygen and peroxide in alkali conditions and the stage is followed by washing and/or thickening,

- (ZP) refers to bleaching stage with ozone and peroxide without a between stage washing and which stage is followed by washing and/or thickening.

In each of the stages (ZT), (EOP), and (ZP) there is no interstage washing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a bleaching sequence in accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 schematically illustrates a bleaching sequence in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 schematically illustrates the later part of a bleaching sequence in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention; Fig. 4 schematically illustrates another bleaching sequence in accordance with the present invention, and especially portions thereof where acid and/or alkali may be added;

Fig. 5 schematically illustrates a recirculation method for washing filtrates in accordance with another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 schematically illustrates a recirculation method for washing filtrates in accordance with the second embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGURE 2; and Fig. 7 schematically illustrates results of a research carried out with a DRUM DISPLACER™ washer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

According to the embodiment of Fig. 1, a bleaching sequence is provided using a high consistency pulp tower 10, from which pulp is discharged and fed, for example, with an MC® (i.e. fluidizing) pump 12 into an ozone reactor 14, from which pulp is preferably discharged by means of a gas separator 16 into a first reaction tower 18. Pulp is preferably discharged from tower 18 into a washer 22 by means of an MC® pump 20. The washer may be a conventional DRUM DISPLACER™ washer or a conventional pressure diffuser. Pulp is preferably pumped from washer 22 by an MC® pump 24 into an oxygen reactor 26, and from reactor 26 into a second reaction tower 28. From tower 28 pulp is fed, preferably by an MC® pump 30, to a second washer 32 (preferably a DRUM DISPLACER™) washer, from which pulp is further pumped with an MC® pump 34 into a second ozone reactor 36 and further therefrom through a as separator 38 to a third reaction tower 40. From tower 40 pulp is pumped with an MC® pump 42 into a third washer 44 (preferably a DRUM DISPLACER™) washer.

As also seen in Fig. 1, ozone (in a carrier gas) is mixed with pulp by a mixer 60 prior to the first ozone reactor 14. Similarly, oxygen may be mixed prior to the oxygen reactor 26 with mixer 62 and the mixture of ozone and carrier gas prior to the second ozone reactor 36. The mixers 60, 62 are preferably AHLMIXER™ type fluidizing mixers, which are able to mix very large amounts of gas into fiber suspensions, including medium consistency suspensions.

Furthermore Fig. 1 teaches how, in order to adjust the pH value of the pulp for the first ozone stage and the removal of heavy metals subsequent thereto, acid may be supplied into the pulp, for example, in the pump 12. Similarly, prior to the removal of heavy metals in the first reaction tower 18 complex formers, such as EDTA, and/or alkali may be added to the pulp. If too much magnesium is removed from the pulp by washer 22, it may be added, for example, with the alkali either in pump 24 and/or in the discharge from the oxygen reactor 26, or in any other appropriate way. Another possibility to adjust the pH of the pulp for the second ozone treatment is to feed acid subsequent to the second washer 32 in pump 34 or in some other suitable way. Also prior to feeding the pulp into the third reaction tower 38 alkali, peroxide and/or magnesium may be added into the pulp, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

All the reaction towers 18, 28 and 40 in Fig. 1 are shown as of the down flow type. Alternatively, they may be of the up flow type, as is shown in Fig. 2. The only significant difference between Figs. 1 and 2 is the flow direction of the reaction towers. In the Fig. 2 embodiment components functionally equivalent to or the same as the components in the Fig. 1 embodiment are illustrated by the same reference numeral, only preceded by a "1". Also pumps 20, 30 and 42 of Fig. 1 are replaced by pumps 120', 130' and 142', because they have been relocated at the other side of the reaction tower, in other words instead of feeding washers 22, 32 and 44 as illustrated in Fig. 1 they feed pulp to the reaction towers 118, 128 and 140 in the embodiments of Fig. 2.

In the process in accordance with the invention pulp is cooked, for example with a continuous EMCC digester, sold by Kamyr Inc., of Glens Falls, New York, to a low kappa number, whereafter the kappa number is further decreased by oxygen bleaching to a value of about 14 or below. By utilizing efficient cooking, hot alkali extraction and oxygen bleaching a kappa range of 14 - 5 is obtained both with soft wood and birch. Usually a kappa number of 14 is sufficient in order to carry our the final bleaching with chlorine-free bleaching chemicals and yet reach a full brightness defined by ISO 86 (preferably ISO 88). Thus also the method in accordance with the present invention may be utilized succesfully to finally bleach pulp prebleached to kappa number 14.

The kraft pulp is bleached subsequent to the pulp washing and according to the invention without a separate removal of heavy metals, for example, with a sequence in accordance with Fig. 1, which is described more in detail below. Pulp may be treated, if so required, with enzymes prior to the sequence in accordance with the present invention. Pulp is brought from the high consistency pulp tower 10 to the first bleaching stage, which is a (ZT) stage. In the Z portion of the (ZT) stage pulp is bleached with ozone, the dosing being about 2-10 kg/adt, pH about 2- 7, and temperature about 40-70°C. The pH value of pulp is adjusted by adding acid to the bottom of the high consistency tower 10, pump 12 (or the discharge to pump 12 as seen in Fig. 1), or chemical mixer 60. The ozone having reacted, the residual gas is removed from the pulp preferably in a gas separator 16 and the treatment of heavy metals begins in the first reaction tower 18 in the T portion of the (ZT) stage.

The T portion of the (ZT) stage may be carried out, for example, in the following ways. The first alternative is to allow the pH value of the pulp to decrease to the range of 2 - 4, whereby the majority of the heavy metals are dissolved into the filtrate phase and may be washed off in the thickener or washer 22 following that stage. The disadvantage here is that the majority of the magnesium (Mg) is also discharged, so that it is possible that magnesium must be added to the pulp, mostly in the form of magnesium sulphate, for the oxygen and/or peroxide stages following later on in the sequence.

Another way to carry out the T portion of the (ZT) stage is to use complex formers, for example, EDTA. The T portion of the (ZT) stage is then carried out in the pH range of about 4-7 and it is advantageous also to have the pH of Z portion of the (ZT) stage preceding T portion above 4. In this way, manganese (which is harmful in the oxygen stages) may be washed off without the magnesium being discharged, so that less magnesium addition (or even no magnesium addition) is necessary in the oxygen and peroxide stages of the final bleaching.

As is described above, the actual metal treatment (T portion of the (ZT) stage) is not carried out prior to the Z portion. Previously this has been considered necessary. Tests with medium consistency ozone treatment have shown that the bleaching reactions with ozone are so rapid that heavy metals do not have time to destroy any significant amount of ozone.

If so required also enzymes may be added in the T portion of the (ZT) stage. Filtrate S. of the washer 22 subsequent to the (ZT) stage may be brought to pulp washing prior to the (ZT) stage, or passed to the sewer or to the recovery of cooking chemicals.

The (ZT) stage is followed in Fig. 1 by an (EOP) stage. In this stage the oxygen dose is about 2-6 kg/adt and the peroxide dose about 10-20 kg/adt. In some special cases it is possible to run the process completely without oxygen. Temperature in the (EOP) stage is about 60-95°C, pH about 9-12, and the duration is about 2-8 hours. If required, magnesium may be added as a protective chemical. The (EOP) stage is followed by washing, which gives filtrate S₂. The filtrate S₂ may be taken to pulp washing prior to or subsequent to the (ZT) stage, sewer, or recovery of chemicals.

The (EOP) stage is followed in Fig. 1 by a second ozone bleaching stage, i.e. an (ZP) stage. The ozone portion of the (ZP) stage is normally carried out in the processes in accordance with the prior art in cold, acid conditions in order to have the ozone react properly. Correspondingly, the P portion of the (ZP) stage is carried out according to the teachings of the prior art in hot, alkali conditions in order to have the peroxide react properly. Thus the combination thereof in an economically advantageous way according to the present concepts is conventionally considered impossible. In the (ZP) stage the following conditions may be utilized:

In the Z portion of the (ZP) stage the ozone dose is small, below 3 kg/adt and the purpose of the ozone is only to activate. Although disadvantageous conditions are used and a part of the ozone reacts poorly, this is insignificant, because the dose is small. Ozone is thus mainly used for the activation of the bleaching stage. The temperature in the ozone stage may be 50-80°C, preferably, for example, 60-70°C. The pH is 4-10, preferably about 6- 10. The dose in the P portion of the (ZP) stage is also small, usually less than 10 kg/adt. Normally about 3-7 kg/adt is sufficient. Thus the temperature in the peroxide stage may be dropped to the range of 60-80°C, preferably to 70-80°C. The pH is 9-11, preferably about 10. The duration is about 1-6 hours.

Thus the conditions of Z and P portions of the (ZP) stage are brought close to each other and washing and heating between the Z and P portions of the (ZP) stage are avoided. Moreover, small acid and alkali amounts are sufficient for the pH-control in the Z and P portions of the (ZP) stage. In some cases no between stage heating and/or acid is/are required.

After the (ZP) stage the pulp is washed and a filtrate S₃ is obtained. The filtrate S₃ may be used for the washing of pulp in connection with the earlier bleaching stages, discharged to the sewer, or led to the recovery of cooking chemicals.

According to yet another embodiment, shown in Fig. 3, the process in accordance with the present invention is significantly changed by repositioning of the equipment. For example, a vortex cleaner 66 and/or a screening plant may be added according to Fig. 3 to the last stage of the bleaching plant to precede the thickener/washer 68, which in this case does not have to be an MC® washer, as in the earlier embodiments. Pulp is diluted to the consistency range of about 0.5-1.5 % after the P-tower 140, when vortex cleaning or screening with a slotted screen is used. On the other hand, when screening with a perforated screen, a dilution to about 2-4% is usually sufficient. Subsequent to vortex cleaning or screening, the pulp is thickened and washed - usually with a suction filter 68. Previously pulp had to be diluted after washing to a screening consistency and thickened again after screening to a medium consistency. In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 no EDTA is used, but the removal of metals is carried out with acid in a Z stage and by adding magnesium to the (EOP) and (ZP) stages. The addition may well be done, in the (EOP) stage, in an MC® pump 224, or in an oxygen mixer 262. This may also well be done in the (ZP) stage in an MC® pump 234, an ozone mixer 264, or in a peroxide mixer 70. The necessary total chemical amounts are given in Table 1. Thus the initial kappa number prior to bleaching is presumed to be 10.

Table 1

Chemical consumption Duration Temperature

Stage adt min. °C

Z 0₃ 0.5 2 40 - 50

E 0₂ 0.4 . 60 80 - 90

P H₂0₂ 1.5 180 80 - 90

MgS0₄ 0.4

Z o₃ 0.1 2 70

P H₂0₂ 0.4 180 70

MgS0₄ 0.3

In the practice of the method set forth in Table I, about 20-30 kg of NaOH/adt, and 15-25 kg of H₂S0₄/adt is consumed, depending upon water usage. In addition to the chemicals of Table 1 bleaching may be intensified by utilizing enzymes. Appropriate places for the enzyme treatment are:

- HD-tower 210 prior to the (ZT) stage, - Drop leg 218 subsequent to the Z reactor,

- Drop leg 72 between washer 222 and the (EOP) stage,

- Drop leg 74 between washer 232 and the (ZP) stage.

The effluent flows from the bleaching plant may be decreased by recirculating the filtrates within the process according to Fig. 5. Figure 5 illustrates an oxygen delignification stage 80, which is followed by a two-stage washing 82. Pulp is transferred from the washing stage to the (ZT) stage 83, and from there via washing 84 to (EOP) stage 85, and from there via washing 86 to the (ZP) stage 87, which is followed by a washing stage 88. The amount of effluent, which is brought to the effluent clarification, discharge channel 90, is 0-5 m3/adt. Part of the effluent may alternatively be transferred to the manufacture of cooking chemicals, via discharge channel 92, to be used instead of fresh water. Thus the amount of effluent that must be treated is minimized.

The reutilization of filtrates illustrated in Fig. 5 may further be intensified by dividing the filtrates from the washer into two fractions with different pH according to Fig. 6. Fig. 6 utilizes the reference numbers of Fig. 5 with a preceding "1". The washers used in Fig. 6 are manufactured and marketed by A. Ahlstrom Corporation, and known as DRUM DISPLACER™ washers. For example, the pulp for the last washer 188 comes from the alkali (ZP) stage. Then the first outwashed filtrate 1881 is clearly alkaline and the filtrate 1882 coming out later is less alkaline or even neutral, because water 1880 flowing to the last washer 188 is generally neutral or slightly acid. In this way two circulation waters 1881 and 1882 of different pH values are obtained, which may be used to adjust the pH of the pulp appropriate before the bleaching sequence, or a particular stage of one bleaching sequence. Filtrates 1881 and 1882 of the last washer 188 in Fig. 6 are brought to the preceding washer 186 in a way that drops the pH of the pulp prior to the (ZP) stage. Thus acid and alkali are saved in the bleaching plant. In the embodiment of Fig. 6 two alkali filtrates 1861 and 1862 are obtained from the washer 186 preceding the (ZP) stage, which are supplied to washer the 184 preceding the (EOP) stage. According to Fig. 6 preferably acid (H₂S0₄) 1840 is added to the filtrate 1862, whereby the first filtrate obtained from the washer, of which one portion 1841 is led to effluent clarification and the rest 1842 to the washer 182 preceding the (ZT) stage, is acid and the second filtrate 1843 alkaline.

The pH of the filtrates may also be adjusted by adding acid or alkali to them before they are used again. In some cases it may, for example, be necessary to add alkali to the filtrates prior to their being brought to the brown stock washing or it may be necessary to add acid in order to maintain the pH low during the removal of the metals in the (ZT) stage (point 1840). It is possible that heavy metals are thickened again and attach to the fibers, if the pH increases during washing. Thus heavy metals are entrained to the P portion of the (ZP) stage following the Z portion and disturb the peroxide stage. Preferably the pH value is maintained less than 4, or at least maintained at 4, during the removal of heavy metals.

Example:

In an experiment a DRUM DISPLACER™ washer was used to wash the incoming 100°C pulp with 60°C water. The washed pulp was discharged from the washer at a temperature of 65°C. The temperatures of the exiting filtrates were 95°C and 75°C. Consequently, two significantly different filtrates were obtained from one washer. This may be utilized in a bleaching plant to obtain two filtrates having different pH values, because the pH value of the filtrate to some extent correlates to the temperature of the filtrates.

The experiment did not follow the pH value, only the temperature, but based on the temperature distribution the expected pH values are marked in Fig. 7 at respective places.

pH - incoming pulp 10

pH - exiting pulp 7.5

pH - filtrate I 9.5

pH - filtrate II 8.0

Such differences in the pH values between the filtrates is extremely significant when optimizing the chemical consumption of the bleaching plant. The pH values of the filtrates are close to the pH values of the entering and exiting pulp, preferably closer to these than to each other.

As may be seen from the above description, a new method has been developed for bleaching pulp with chlorine-free chemicals in a short sequence without the removal of heavy metals preceding the bleaching sequence. The present invention also includes a new method of arranging the screening subsequent to the pulp bleaching in such a way that a separate washing between the last washing stage and screening/vortex cleaning is unnecessary, but only dilution to screening/cleaning consistency. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of bleaching pulp to a brightness of at least about 86 ISO without the use of chlorine bleaching chemicals, comprising the steps of: (a) cooking and delignifying comminuted cellulosic fibrous material to produce pulp having a kappa no. of about 14 or less, and then immediately, without first removing heavy metals,

(b) bleaching the pulp in a plurality of stages, the first stage comprising a stage employing ozone as a primary bleaching chemical.

2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein step (b) is practiced so that the first stage is a (ZT) stage, and there is between stage washing or thickening or both.

3. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein step (b) is practiced by the bleaching sequence of (ZT) (EOP) (ZP).

4. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein in the (ZT) stage, about 2-10 kg of ozone is provided per air dried ton of pulp.

5. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein during the removal of heavy metals in the (ZT) stage the pH of the pulp is about 2-4.

6. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the pH of the pulp during the (ZT) stage is about 2-7, and the temperature is between about 40-70°C.

7. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the pH during the entire (ZT) stage is about 4-7.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 comprising the further step of, during or prior to metals removal in the (ZT) stage, adding heavy metals complex formers to the pulp.

9. A method as recited in claim 2 comprising the further step of, during or prior to metals removal in the (ZT) stage, adding heavy metals complex formers to the pulp.

10. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein during the (EOP) stage the amount of peroxide added is about 10-20 kg/adt.

11. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein during the (EOP) stage the amount of peroxide added is about 10-20 kg/adt, and the amount of oxygen added is about 2-6 kg/adt.

12. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein during _.the practice of the (EOP) stage the pH of the pulp is maintained within the range of about 9 to 12, the temperature within the range of about 60-95°C, and the treatment time is about 2-8 hours.

13. A method as recited in claim 3 comprising the further step of adding magnesium to the (EOP) stage to provide protection for the pulp.

14. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein during the practice of the (ZP) stage the amount of ozone added is less than about 3 kg/adt, and the amount of peroxide added is less than about 10 kg/adt.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the amount of peroxide added in the (ZP) stage is about 3-7 kg/adt.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the temperature during the (ZP) stage while ozone is in contact with the pulp is about 50-80°C, and the pH is about 4-10.

17. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the temperature of the pulp while in contact with ozone in the (ZP) stage is between about 60-70°C.

18. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the pH during the (ZP) stage is within the range of about 6-10 .

19. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein the temperature of pulp while it is in contact with peroxide in the (ZP) stage is within the range of about 60-80°C, the pH is within the range of about 9-11, and the treatment time is about 1 to 6 hours.

20. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the pulp is immediately screened after the (ZP) stage, and then is washed following the screening.

21. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein screening is accomplished by diluting the pulp to a consistency of about 0.5-1.5%, and then treating it in a vortex cleaner.

22. A method as recited in claim 20 wherein the pulp is diluted to a consistency of about 0.5-4% prior to screening, and wherein screening is practiced at that consistency.

23. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein enzymes are added to the pulp prior to the (ZT) stage.

24. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the pulp supplied to step (b) is at medium consistency, and wherein the method comprises the further steps of: mixing ozone and carrier gas with the pulp in a mixer in such a way that the ozone dosing is 2-10 kg ozone/adt, the pulp is discharged from the mixer to an ozone reactor, the pH of the pulp is maintained within the range of about 2-4, the temperature of the pulp is maintained within the range of 40-70°C, the pulp is discharged to the first reaction tower, removal of heavy metals from the pulp is carried out, with the pH 2-7, the pulp is discharged to a washing apparatus, in which the material loosened in the filtrate both in the removal stage of heavy metals and during ozone bleaching are washed off, the pulp is supplied to a mixer, in which oxygen is mixed with pulp, where the dosing of oxygen is 2-6 kg/adt, the pulp is discharged to an oxygen reactor, the pulp is discharged from the oxygen reactor and peroxide is mixed with pulp, where the dosing of peroxide is 10-20 kg/adt, the pulp is discharged to a reaction tower, the temperature of the reaction tower is maintained within the range of 60-95°C and the pH within the range of 9-12, the pulp is discharged from the reaction tower to the washer, in which reaction products dissolved in the filtrate in the oxygen and peroxide stages are separated from the pulp, the pulp is supplied to a mixer, in which ozone and carrier gas is mixed with pulp, where the dosing is less than 3 kg/adt, the pulp is supplied to the ozone reactor and the reaction conditions are adjusted in such a way that the pH is within the range of 4-10 and the temperature 50-80°C, the pulp is discharged from the ozone reactor via a gas separator, in which separator residual gas is separated from the pulp, peroxide is mixed with the pulp, where the dosing is less than 10 kg/adt and the pulp is discharged to a third reaction tower, in which the reaction conditions are adjusted in such a way that the pH is within the range of 9-11 and the temperature 70-80°C, and the pulp is discharged from the third reaction tower to a washer, in which the reaction products of the third bleaching stage are separated to a filtrate.

25. A method as recited in claim 3 wherein the pulp supplied to step (b) is at medium consistency, and wherein the method comprises the further steps of: mixing ozone and carrier gas with the pulp in a mixer in such a way that the ozone dosing is 2-10 kg ozone/adt. the pulp is discharged from the mixer to an ozone reactor, the pH of the pulp is maintained within the range of about 2-7, the temperature of the pulp is maintained within the range of 40-70°C, the pulp is discharged to the first reaction tower, removal of heavy metals from the pulp is carried out, with the pH is 2-7, the pulp is discharged to a washing apparatus, in which the material loosened in the filtrate both in the removal stage of heavy metals and during ozone bleaching are washed off, the pulp is supplied to a mixer, in which oxygen is mixed with pulp, where the dosing of oxygen is 2-6 kg/adt, the pulp is discharged to an oxygen reactor, the pulp is discharged from the oxygen reactor and peroxide is mixed with pulp, where the dosing of peroxide is 10-20 kg/adt, the pulp is discharged to a reaction tower, the temperature of the reaction tower is maintained within the range of 60-95°C and the pH within the range of 9 - 12, the pulp is discharged from the reaction tower to the washer, in which reaction products dissolved in the filtrate in the oxygen and peroxide stages are separated from the pulp, the pulp is supplied to a mixer, in which ozone and carrier gas is mixed with pulp, where the dosing is less than 3 kg/adt, the pulp is supplied to the ozone reactor and the reaction conditions are adjusted in such a way that the pH is within the range of 4-10 and the temperature 50-80°C, the pulp is discharged from the ozone reactor via a gas separator, in which separator residual gas is separated from the pulp, peroxide is mixed with the pulp, where the dosing is less than 10 kg/adt and the pulp is discharged to a third reaction tower, in which the reaction conditions are adjusted in such a way that the pH is within the range of 9-11 and the temperature 70-80°C, and the pulp is discharged from the third reaction tower to a washer, in which the reaction products of the third bleaching stage are separated to a filtrate.

26. A method as recited in claim 1 comprising the further step of washing the pulp during or after step (b) to produce two filtrates with different pH values from the same washer, and utilizing the two different filtrates during the practice of step (b).

27. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein during the practice of step (b) at least one filtrate is produced, and wherein the pH of the filtrate is adjusted by adding alkali or acid thereto.

28. A method as recited in claim 2 wherein during the (ZT) stage, after treatment of the pulp with ozone it is treated with a filtrate having a pH which is acid enough to prevent rethickening of heavy metals.

29. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein the filtrate is maintained acid enough to prevent rethickening of heavy metals by adding acid thereto.

30. A method as recited in claim 28 wherein the pH of the filtrate remains below 4, and the pulp has a pH below

4 during the treatment of the pulp with acid filtrate.

31. A method of producing cellulose pulp having a brightness of at least about 86 ISO without the use of chlorine bleaching chemicals, comprising the steps of:

(a) cooking an oxygen delignifying comminuted cellulosic fibrous material produce pulp having a Kappa No. of about 14 or less; then

(b) bleaching the pulp in the sequence (ZT) (EOP) (ZP) , with between stage washing or thickening or both.

32. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein in the (ZT) stage, about 2-10 kg of ozone is provided per air dried ton of pulp.

33. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein the pH during the entire (ZT) stage is about 4-7.

34. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein during the practice of the (ZP) stage the amount of ozone added is less than 3 kg/adt, and the amount of peroxide added is less than about 10 kg/adt.

35. A method as recited in claim 31 wherein during the (EOP) stage the amount of peroxide added is about 10-20 kg/adt, and the amount of oxygen added is about 2-6 kg/adt.