Multi-stage pulping process

Claim 1

A MULTI-STAGE PULPING PROCESS COMPRISING THE STEPS OF, REACTING WOOD CHIPS IN A DIGESTER IN THE PRESENCE OF A FIRST STAGE COOKING LIQUOR AT A SELECTED AMBIENT PH BY A SULFITE PULPING PROCESS TO FORM SOLID LIGNOSULFONATES AND PARTIALLY COMPLETE THE DIGESTION OF SAID WOOD CHIPS, REMOVING THE FREE LIQUOR FROM SAID DIGESTER, RECOVERING THE VOLATILE COMPONENTS IN SAID LIQUOR AS A RELATIVELY CLEAR CONDENSATE, INTRODUCING SAID CONDENSATE INTO SAID DIGESTER IN INTIMATE CONTACT WITH SAID WOOD CHIPS TO COMPLETE SAID DIGESTION BY HYDROLYTICALLY SOLUBILIZING SAID SOLID LIGNOSULFONATES AND OTHER COMPONENTS IN SAID WOOD CHIPS WHILE SIMULTANEOUSLY REMOVING BY LEACHING SAID SOLUBILIZED WOOD COMPONENTS FROM SAID WOOD CHIPS THEREBY FORMING A LIQUOR, REPEATING SAID WOOD CHIPS REACTING STEP IN THE PRESENCE OF A SECOND STAGE COOKING LIQUOR SELECTED TO EFFECT A SHIFT IN THE AMBIENT PH IN THE DIGESTER FROM THE AMBIENT PH OF THE FIRST STAGE DIGESTION AND REPEATING SAID FREE LIQUOR REMOVING, CONDENSATE RECOVERING AND CONDENSATE INTRODUCING STEPS TO COMPLETE SAID SECOND STAGE DIGESTION AND TO LEACH SOLUBILIZED WOOD COMPONENTS FROM SAID WOOD CHIPS THEREBY FORMING A LIQUOR.