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    What is white liquor, the caustic chemical involved in the Longview paper mill disaster?

    The process of paper making involves several chemicals that can cause serious injuries if a person is exposed to them. LONGVIEW, Wash. — White liquor, a superheated chemical mixture used to break down wood into paper pulp, is at the center of the deadly tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave paper mill in Longview. The facility employs a common process for making paper known as kraft milling. In kraft milling, wood chips are processed under high pressure and heat (anywhere from 300 to 330 degrees Fahrenheit) while being exposed to extremely caustic chemicals that cause the wood to break down…