Replacing Chemicals in Recycle Mills with Mechanical Alternatives. Quarterly progress report covering period October 1, 1999 to December 31, 1999
The objective of this project is to explore potential applications of underwater pulsed power technology to the paper industry. These included fiber refining, disinfection, stickies dispersion, and stickies control. In pulsed power a spark is discharged underwater. Present commercial applications of the technology include the detonation of land mines, zebra mussel control, and water disinfection. In preliminary work the authors have found that stickies are rapidly dispersed under the influence of pulsed power. The purpose of this project is to explore other applications of the technology in the recycle paper industry, especially in applications where the technology can replace potentially expensive chemical use. The authors have found that sparking improves the screenability of stickies in the presence of pulp. Sparking is also able to detackify pitch coated on metal surfaces. This is potentially a major finding since it extends the range of the application from recycle to virgin mills. They need to determine if the effect also occurs for pitch particles suspended in whitewater. Some stickies such as Robond, a PSA used in the paint industry, are relatively unaffected by spark treatment. They find that this polymer is oxidized to a lower extent. A sparker unit has been purchased and installed at IPST. A licensing agreement with Sparktec Environmental, Stoney Creek, Canada, the manufacturer of the device, has been negotiated. It was found that sparking improves the screenability of stickies in the presence of pulp. Sparking is also able to detackify pitch coated on metal surfaces.
- Research Organization:
- Inst. of Paper Science and Technology, Atlanta, GA (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE) (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC36-99GO10381
- OSTI ID:
- 755410
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/GO/10381-Q; TRN: AH200028%%199
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 13 Jan 2000
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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