The use of flow cytometry in wet end research

Flow cytometry has great potential for the analysis of papermaking process waters. Developed for the count and classification of blood cells, FCM provides rapid on-line analysis - less than 10 seconds per sample - and opens a window onto : the concentration and size distribution of particles, fines, etc ; microbiological activity ; the surface change of particles ; various chemical parameters such as hydrophobicity. When used on line in a paper mill with deposit problems in the press and dryer sections, FCM revealed a very clear correlation between starch aggregates and the deposits. The FCM system provided error free operation during the mill trial which lasted for over a month.