Solubilization and phase equilibria of low molecular weight amphiphilic and insoluble wood components (sodium abietate, sodium oleate, sterols, alkanols, fatty acids) modeling those occurring in the Kraft cooking process of papermaking pulps (“extractives”) were investigated. The rate of separation (creaming) of particles formed when adding neutral solubilizates in excess to solutions of fatty
... [Show full abstract] and resin acids soaps was studied using a TurbiScan MA 2000 instrument. The rate was highly dependent on the fatty acid/resin acid ratio. A narrow two phase region was found where a lamellar liquid crystalline phase formed by neutral solubilizate and soaps was in equilibrium with very dilute solutions. This could be utilized to improve separation by means of a controlled addition of the neutral component.