A PhD project was started in 2012 with the purpose to in depth examine the first and second part of a sodium sulfite dissolving pulp cook including a following extraction stage. The experimental study started with the first part of the cook when using spruce or pine as the wood raw material and when using lab or mill cooking liquors. A large number of cooking experiments have been performed and a lot of data has been obtained and the risk for obtaining a black cook has been especially observed. In the latter case the thiosulphate content is very critical as it can both lead to a black cook and to decomposition reactions in the cooking liquor. How to avoid problematic cooking conditions will be especially highlighted in the project but ways to produce new pulp grades and new chemicals will be equally important