A structural implementation of a fuzzy inference system through connectionist network based on MLP with logical neurons connected through binary and numerical weights is considered. The resulting fuzzy neural network is trained using classical backpropagation to learn the rules of inference of a fuzzy system, by adjustment of the numerical weights. For controller design, training is carried out off line in a closed loop simulation. Rules for the fuzzy logic controller are extracted from the network by interpreting the consequence weights as measure of confidence of the underlying rule. The framework is used in a simulation study for estimation and control of a pulp batch digester. The controlled variable, the Kappa number, a measure of lignin content in the pulp, which is not measurable is estimated through temperature and liquor concentration using the fuzzy neural network. On the other hand a fuzzy neural network is trained to control the Kappa number and rules are extracted from the trained network to construct a fuzzy logic controller.