TABULATION
STANDARD-SPECIFIC INTEREST GROUP BALLOT
OFFICIAL TEST METHOD
DATE: August 20, 2019 Please return report to: Standards Department
TAPPI
TO: Jeff Lundeen DUE DATE: NA 15 Technology Parkway South
Working Group Chairman Peachtree Corners, GA 30092
standards@tappi.org
RE: T 240, WI 170809.02, Draft 2 FAX: (770) 446-6947
The results of the SSIG ballot of the subject document are as follows:
AFFIRMATIVE 9 NEGATIVE 0 ABSTENTION 1
10 ballots returned = 71% / 100% affirmative; Standard may proceed to SARG after resolution of comments and negatives
X No comments received. Standard is being balloted for the SARG.
Copies of comments from the SSIG ballots are attached.
Please review and return this form with recommendations and dispositions of comments and negatives, along with
your MARKED UP COPY for preparation of the next ballot. DO NOT RE-TYPE.
Please indicate whether the method is to be:
re-balloted to the SSIG,
_____or balloted for the SARG.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND DISPOSITIONS OF COMMENTS AND NEGATIVES:
(MUST be in BLACK or RED ink for reproduction)
Changes indicated in the SARG draft. Standard ready for SARG
❐ Continuation on attached sheet(s)-PLEASE DO NOT WRITE ON REVERSE
Your completion of this form constitutes the working group chairman's report. Please send copies of your resolution of comments to
those SSIG members who made comments. This form and attachments should be returned to the Standards Department.
STANDARDS COORDINATOR Deborah Dodson 08/20/2019
Signature Date
T 240 - Draft 2, due Sunday, January 20, 2019
Voting Summary by Option
Option # Votes
Affirmative 9
Negative w/comment 0
Abstain 1
TOTAL VOTES RECEIVED 10
Voting Statistics
Total Members of SSIG 14
Percent return 71%
Votes received 10
Total votes minus abstentions 9
Percent affirmative 100%
Voting Details
Voter Name Interest Category Vote
Courchene, Charles General Interest Affirmative
Crawshaw, Dennis Producer Affirmative
Lundeen, Jeff Producer Affirmative
Ogden, Roger General Interest Affirmative
Rantanen, Walter Supplier - service/general Affirmative
Ross Sutherland, Nancy General Interest Affirmative
Schabel, Samuel Educator Affirmative
Tofanica, Bogdan Marian Educator Affirmative
Trotter, Janice General Interest Affirmative
Trepanier, Roland Supplier - equipment Abstention
Canavan, Gene General Interest Did not vote
Edens, Rhonda Producer Did not vote
Guay, Donald Producer Did not vote
Jack, David Producer Did not vote
T 240 - Draft 2, due Sunday, January 20, 2019
Voter Comments Collected During Ballot Voting
No comments were made on this ballot
T 240 - Draft 2, due Sunday, January 20, 2019
Voting Summary by Voter Interest Category
Interest Category Affirmative Negative Abstention Not Returned Total
Qt. %
Educator 2 0 0 0 2 14.3%
General Interest 4 0 0 1 5 35.7%
Producer 2 0 0 3 5 35.7%
Supplier - equipment 0 0 1 0 1 7.1%
Supplier - service/general 1 0 0 0 1 7.1%
Total 9 0 1 4 14 100.0%
NOTICE: This is a DRAFT of a TAPPI Standard in ballot. Although available for public viewing,
it is still under TAPPI’s copyright and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission of
TAPPI. This draft is NOT a currently published TAPPI Standard.
WI 170809.02
T 240
DRAFT NO. 02
DATE December 6, 2018
WORKING GROUP
CHAIRMAN Jeff Lundeen
SUBJECT
CATEGORY Pulp Properties
RELATED
METHODS See “Additional Information”
CAUTION:
This Test Method may include safety precautions which are believed to be appropriate at the time of publication of the method. The intent of
these is to alert the user of the method to safety issues related to such use. The user is responsible for determining that the safety precautions
are complete and are appropriate to their use of the method, and for ensuring that suitable safety practices have not changed since publication
of the method. This method may require the use, disposal, or both, of chemicals which may present serious health hazards to humans.
Procedures for the handling of such substances are set forth on Material Safety Data Sheets which must be developed by all manufacturers
and importers of potentially hazardous chemicals and maintained by all distributors of potentially hazardous chemicals. Prior to the use of this
method, the user must determine whether any of the chemicals to be used or disposed of are potentially hazardous and, if so, must follow
strictly the procedures specified by both the manufacturer, as well as local, state, and federal authorities for safe use and disposal of these
chemicals.
Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions
(Five-year review of T 240 om-12)
(Changes from Draft 1: Includes correction on Section 5.5
and results of repeatability study on Section 10)
1. Scope
1.1 This method describes the measurement of pulp consistency (concentration) of aqueous fiber
suspensions.
1.2 The method applies to most pulps sampled from different process points in a pulp or paper mill.
1.3 The method is applicable to pulps with up to 25% consistency.
Approved by the Standard Specific Interest Group for this Test Method
TAPPI
T 240 om-12 Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions / 2
2. Summary
A known weight of pulp suspension is filtered in a Büchner funnel. Fibers and other suspended matter are
retained on an oven dried, pre-weighed filter paper. After drying to constant weight at 105 ± 3°C, the oven-dry
weight of the retained matter is determined and calculated as the percentage of original pulp suspension weight.
3. Significance
Determination of pulp consistency is the starting point for the quantitative analysis of many other pulp
characteristics. Furthermore, it provides the basis for mass balance and yield evaluation in a pulp and paper mill.
4. Definitions
4.1 Pulp suspension: aqueous fiber suspension that may contain fillers, additives, contaminants, and
other non-fibrous components.
4.2 Pulp consistency: the weight percentage of oven-dry matter accounting for the total weight of the
pulp suspension.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Sampling cup, 200 mL, wide mouth with a smooth lip
5.2 Beaker, 600 mL
5.3 Dilution container, 10-40 L
5.4 Mechanical stirrer for mixing
5.5 Balances, 40-kg capacity, accurate to 50 g; 2-kg capacity, accurate to 0.1 g; 100-g capacity, accurate
to 0.0105 g
5.6 Büchner funnel, 150-mm diameter, and filtration flask, 2000 mL
5.7 Filter paper, ashless, with coarse pore sizes, 150 mm in diameter.
5.8 Drying oven, with forced-air circulation, set at 105 ± 3°C
5.9 Hot-plate type dryer, set at 150 ± 5°C
6. Sampling
6.1 When sampling according to the following procedure, always take the sample at the point of greatest
agitation. For good sampling, a high degree of agitation is necessary as the uniformity of the pulp suspension is
proportional to the degree of agitation. The accuracy of the method is very dependent on the sampling procedure.
3 / Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions T 240 om-12
6.2 When sampling from a mill stock line, chest, valve, or similar area, the number, frequency, and
sampling technique should be representative of the process and source being sampled. When the representative
sample of pulp suspension is obtained, store the sample in a cool area away from direct sunlight until the laboratory
procedure is performed on the composite sample.
7. Procedure
7.1 While rigorously mixing the sample, quickly withdraw three consecutive portions with a sampling
cup and transfer the contents into a tared beaker. The total weight of the pulp suspension should be approximately
400 g, or a minimum of 1 gram oven-dry pulp. Clean the outside surface of the beaker if pulp has dripped on it.
Weigh the pulp to the nearest 0.1 g.
7.2 If the pulp consistency is 1% or lower, go directly to the next step. If the pulp consistency is higher
than 1%, dilution is required. Add the pulp suspension and a known amount of water to a dilution container. The
amount of water added should be sufficient to dilute the pulp to less than 1% consistency. Mix the diluted pulp
thoroughly. Then go back to 7.1 to take an aliquot from the diluted pulp.
7.3 Place a pre-weighed filter paper in the Büchner funnel and moisten it with water. Apply suction, then
pour the pulp suspension into the Büchner funnel. Rinse the beaker with a small amount of water and add the rinsing
to the funnel.
7.4 If the filtrate is cloudy, re-filter the filtrate until it becomes clear.
7.5 Remove the fiber pad along with the filter paper. Collect any fibers that stuck to the inner surface of
the funnel. Dry the fiber pad and filter paper in an oven with forced-air circulation at 105 ± 3°C for at least 2 hr to
constant weight. Cool the pad in a desiccator. Weigh the pad to the nearest 0.01 g. If two successive readings, taken
30 minutes apart, do not differ by more 0.01 g, constant weight has been reached.
NOTE 1: For practical purposes, drying with a hot-plate type dryer to constant weight is often sufficiently accurate and it takes much
less drying time.
NOTE 2: For pulps containing 10% or more filler, accuracy is affected due to filler loss. In addition, filtering is prolonged. In the case
that filler content is so high that it is impossible to complete filtering within a reasonable amount of time, retention aids can be
added. Alternatively, consistency can be measured with evaporation instead of filtering.
8. Calculation
8.1 For pulp suspension with 1% consistency or less,
w− f
C, % = × 100 ,
g
T 240 om-12 Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions / 4
in which, C = pulp consistency, %
w = weight of the oven-dry pad and filter paper, g
f = weight of the oven-dry filter paper, g
g = weight of the original pulp, g
8.2 For pulp suspension with higher than 1% consistency,
w− f g +d
C, % = × × 100 ,
a g
in which, C = pulp consistency, %
w = weight of the oven-dry pad and filter paper, g
f = weight of the oven-dry filter paper, g
a = weight of aliquot of diluted pulp, g
g = weight of the original pulp, g
d = weight of the dilution water, g
9. Report
Report the average pulp consistency of two determinations to three significant figures.
10. Precision
10.1 The following precision data is in accordance with the definition in TAPPI T 1200
“Interlaboratory Evaluation of Test Methods to Determine TAPPI Repeatability and Reproducibility.”
10.2 Repeatability = 310%
10.3 Reproducibility = 7%
10.4 This precision data was derived from an interlaboratory evaluation by 6 laboratories on a 0.27%
consistency bleached hardwood Kraft pulp. It is expected that these values would be larger for a higher consistency
sample due to sampling difficulties. . Reproducibility for this method is impractical to determine because of the
difficulty in proper sampling for a round robin.
11. Keywords
Pulp, Consistency, Concentration, Fibers, Dispersions
5 / Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions T 240 om-12
12. Additional information
12.1 Effective date of issue: To be assigned.
12.2 This method was first published in 1967 as a Suggested Method and became an Official Method in
1975; it was revised in 1981 and 1993. Minor editorial revisions explaining the reproducibility and the related
methods were made in the 2012 version.
12.3 Related methods: ISO 4119 “Determination of Stock Concentration,” International Organization for
Standardization, Genève, Switzerland; PAPTAC D-16 “Consistency of Stocks,” Pulp and Paper Technical
Association of Canada, Montreal, Canada; SCAN C 17 “Stock Concentration,” Scandinavian Pulp, Paper, and Board
Testing Committee, Stockholm, Sweden.
Your comments and suggestions on this procedure are earnestly requested and should be sent to the TAPPI
Standards Department.
NOTICE: This is a DRAFT of a TAPPI Standard in ballot. Although available for public viewing,
it is still under TAPPI’s copyright and may not be reproduced or distributed without permission of
TAPPI. This draft is NOT a currently published TAPPI Standard.
WI 170809.02
T 240
DRAFT NO. 02
DATE December 6, 2018
WORKING GROUP
CHAIRMAN Jeff Lundeen
SUBJECT
CATEGORY Pulp Properties
RELATED
METHODS See “Additional Information”
CAUTION:
This Test Method may include safety precautions which are believed to be appropriate at the time of publication of the method. The intent of
these is to alert the user of the method to safety issues related to such use. The user is responsible for determining that the safety precautions
are complete and are appropriate to their use of the method, and for ensuring that suitable safety practices have not changed since publication
of the method. This method may require the use, disposal, or both, of chemicals which may present serious health hazards to humans.
Procedures for the handling of such substances are set forth on Material Safety Data Sheets which must be developed by all manufacturers
and importers of potentially hazardous chemicals and maintained by all distributors of potentially hazardous chemicals. Prior to the use of this
method, the user must determine whether any of the chemicals to be used or disposed of are potentially hazardous and, if so, must follow
strictly the procedures specified by both the manufacturer, as well as local, state, and federal authorities for safe use and disposal of these
chemicals.
Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions
(Five-year review of T 240 om-12)
(Changes from Draft 1: Includes correction on Section 5.5
and results of repeatability study on Section 10)
1. Scope
1.1 This method describes the measurement of pulp consistency (concentration) of aqueous fiber
suspensions.
1.2 The method applies to most pulps sampled from different process points in a pulp or paper mill.
1.3 The method is applicable to pulps with up to 25% consistency.
Approved by the Standard Specific Interest Group for this Test Method
TAPPI
T 240 om-12 Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions / 2
2. Summary
A known weight of pulp suspension is filtered in a Büchner funnel. Fibers and other suspended matter are
retained on an oven dried, pre-weighed filter paper. After drying to constant weight at 105 ± 3°C, the oven-dry
weight of the retained matter is determined and calculated as the percentage of original pulp suspension weight.
3. Significance
Determination of pulp consistency is the starting point for the quantitative analysis of many other pulp
characteristics. Furthermore, it provides the basis for mass balance and yield evaluation in a pulp and paper mill.
4. Definitions
4.1 Pulp suspension: aqueous fiber suspension that may contain fillers, additives, contaminants, and
other non-fibrous components.
4.2 Pulp consistency: the weight percentage of oven-dry matter accounting for the total weight of the
pulp suspension.
5. Apparatus
5.1 Sampling cup, 200 mL, wide mouth with a smooth lip
5.2 Beaker, 600 mL
5.3 Dilution container, 10-40 L
5.4 Mechanical stirrer for mixing
5.5 Balances, 40-kg capacity, accurate to 50 g; 2-kg capacity, accurate to 0.1 g; 100-g capacity, accurate
to 0.005 g
5.6 Büchner funnel, 150-mm diameter, and filtration flask, 2000 mL
5.7 Filter paper, ashless, with coarse pore sizes, 150 mm in diameter.
5.8 Drying oven, with forced-air circulation, set at 105 ± 3°C
5.9 Hot-plate type dryer, set at 150 ± 5°C
6. Sampling
6.1 When sampling according to the following procedure, always take the sample at the point of greatest
agitation. For good sampling, a high degree of agitation is necessary as the uniformity of the pulp suspension is
proportional to the degree of agitation. The accuracy of the method is very dependent on the sampling procedure.
3 / Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions T 240 om-12
6.2 When sampling from a mill stock line, chest, valve, or similar area, the number, frequency, and
sampling technique should be representative of the process and source being sampled. When the representative
sample of pulp suspension is obtained, store the sample in a cool area away from direct sunlight until the laboratory
procedure is performed on the composite sample.
7. Procedure
7.1 While rigorously mixing the sample, quickly withdraw three consecutive portions with a sampling
cup and transfer the contents into a tared beaker. The total weight of the pulp suspension should be approximately
400 g, or a minimum of 1 gram oven-dry pulp. Clean the outside surface of the beaker if pulp has dripped on it.
Weigh the pulp to the nearest 0.1 g.
7.2 If the pulp consistency is 1% or lower, go directly to the next step. If the pulp consistency is higher
than 1%, dilution is required. Add the pulp suspension and a known amount of water to a dilution container. The
amount of water added should be sufficient to dilute the pulp to less than 1% consistency. Mix the diluted pulp
thoroughly. Then go back to 7.1 to take an aliquot from the diluted pulp.
7.3 Place a pre-weighed filter paper in the Büchner funnel and moisten it with water. Apply suction, then
pour the pulp suspension into the Büchner funnel. Rinse the beaker with a small amount of water and add the rinsing
to the funnel.
7.4 If the filtrate is cloudy, re-filter the filtrate until it becomes clear.
7.5 Remove the fiber pad along with the filter paper. Collect any fibers that stuck to the inner surface of
the funnel. Dry the fiber pad and filter paper in an oven with forced-air circulation at 105 ± 3°C for at least 2 hr to
constant weight. Cool the pad in a desiccator. Weigh the pad to the nearest 0.01 g. If two successive readings, taken
30 minutes apart, do not differ by more 0.01 g, constant weight has been reached.
NOTE 1: For practical purposes, drying with a hot-plate type dryer to constant weight is often sufficiently accurate and it takes much
less drying time.
NOTE 2: For pulps containing 10% or more filler, accuracy is affected due to filler loss. In addition, filtering is prolonged. In the case
that filler content is so high that it is impossible to complete filtering within a reasonable amount of time, retention aids can be
added. Alternatively, consistency can be measured with evaporation instead of filtering.
8. Calculation
8.1 For pulp suspension with 1% consistency or less,
w− f
C, % = × 100 ,
g
T 240 om-12 Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions / 4
in which, C = pulp consistency, %
w = weight of the oven-dry pad and filter paper, g
f = weight of the oven-dry filter paper, g
g = weight of the original pulp, g
8.2 For pulp suspension with higher than 1% consistency,
w− f g +d
C, % = × × 100 ,
a g
in which, C = pulp consistency, %
w = weight of the oven-dry pad and filter paper, g
f = weight of the oven-dry filter paper, g
a = weight of aliquot of diluted pulp, g
g = weight of the original pulp, g
d = weight of the dilution water, g
9. Report
Report the average pulp consistency of two determinations to three significant figures.
10. Precision
10.1 The following precision data is in accordance with the definition in TAPPI T 1200 “Interlaboratory
Evaluation of Test Methods to Determine TAPPI Repeatability and Reproducibility.”
10.2 Repeatability = 3%
10.3 Reproducibility = 7%
10.4 This precision data was derived from an interlaboratory evaluation by 6 laboratories on a 0.27%
consistency bleached hardwood Kraft pulp. It is expected that these values would be larger for a higher consistency
sample due to sampling difficulties.
11. Keywords
Pulp, Consistency, Concentration, Fibers, Dispersions
5 / Consistency (concentration) of pulp suspensions T 240 om-12
12. Additional information
12.1 Effective date of issue: To be assigned.
12.2 This method was first published in 1967 as a Suggested Method and became an Official Method in
1975; it was revised in 1981 and 1993. Minor editorial revisions explaining the reproducibility and the related
methods were made in the 2012 version.
12.3 Related methods: ISO 4119 “Determination of Stock Concentration,” International Organization for
Standardization, Genève, Switzerland; PAPTAC D-16 “Consistency of Stocks,” Pulp and Paper Technical
Association of Canada, Montreal, Canada; SCAN C 17 “Stock Concentration,” Scandinavian Pulp, Paper, and Board
Testing Committee, Stockholm, Sweden.
Your comments and suggestions on this procedure are earnestly requested and should be sent to the TAPPI
Standards Department.
