Home About us Contact
|
Home About us Contact | ||
|
|
||
Pulp Mill (pulp + mill)
Selected AbstractsTasmania's Tamar Valley Pulp Mill: A Comparison of Planning Processes Using a Good Environmental Governance FrameworkAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 3 2008Fred Gale In November 2004, the Tasmanian government requested the state's planning body, the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC), to undertake an evaluation of a proposal to establish a pulp mill at Long Reach near Bell Bay on Tasmania's Tamar Estuary. In early 2007, Gunns Limited, the project's proponent, pulled out of the RPDC process and the government established an alternative, ,fast-track' process under the Pulp Mill Assessment Act (PMAA). This article evaluates the RPDC and the PMAA assessment processes using a ,good environmental governance' framework composed of eight criteria , transparency, accountability, openness, balance, deliberation, efficiency, science and risk. The comparison reveals that although the RPDC process fell short of the ideal, it was markedly superior to the PMAA process that replaced it. The case highlights how political economic power can be used to the detriment of public planning and the communities and environment that rely on it. [source] Use of paired fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) reproductive test.ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 7 2006Part 2: Source identification of biological effects at a bleached kraft pulp mill Abstract Reproductive effects of pulp mill effluents on fish continue to be reported in Canadian waters. Spawning delays, reduced gonad size, and altered levels of sex steroid hormones have been found in both sexes of various fish species exposed to effluents. We initiated a project to identify the source/cause of such effects. In part 1 of this two-part series, we exposed mature adult fathead minnow (FHM; Pimephales promelas) for 21 d to final treated effluent (1% and 100% v/v) from a bleached kraft pulp mill in Terrace Bay (ON, Canada). Results suggested pulp mill effluent from this mill affected reproductive indicators in FHM and effects were dependent on effluent concentration, duration of exposure, and method of data analysis. The main objective of this paper was to use the FHM assay to identify waste stream sources within the mill that affect reproductive indicators. Various process streams were selected, characterized with respect to effluent chemistry and acute toxicity, and a subset was tested on-site with the 21-d FHM bioassay. Results showed that both the combined mill effluent (before secondary treatment) and the combined alkaline stream (CALK) caused both decreased spawning events (,55% for both streams) and decreased egg production (28 and 74%, respectively), and the CALK stream resulted in significant male ovipositor development. By comparing response patterns we were able to identify the CALK stream as a source of compounds at this mill affecting reproductive indicators in FHM and highlight this stream for further toxicity identification evaluation. [source] Characterization of putative ligands for a fish gonadal androgen receptor in a pulp mill effluentENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006D. G. Joakim Larsson Abstract Fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents often become masculinized. A plausible hypothesisis that this is caused by activation of androgen receptors. The present study aimed to investigate if ligands for the fish gonadal androgen receptor (AR2) are present in pulp mill effluent and to characterize/identify these compounds. Extracts of both primary and biologically treated effluents from a Swedish kraft pulp mill were fractionated chemically. Fractions were tested in competitive binding assays for AR2 from ovaries of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Primary effluent contained 96 ng dihydrotestosterone equivalents/L, whereas biologically treated effluent was 16 times less potent. Further fractionations and assays of binding activities were performed on the primary effluent. Eight final fractions displaced androgen in the binding assay, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses revealed that these contained 37 detectable compounds that were not present in inactive fractions. The majority were moderately polar compounds between 200 and 400 g/mol with hydroxyl/carbonyl groups. Two compounds were ruled out because of their lack of binding to AR2. The mass spectra of a third compound matched that of 4-hydroxy-3 (2-(4-hydroxy-3methoxophenyl)ethyl)-5-metoxyacetophenon, but the remaining candidates could not be fully identified. A search for 21 known steroidal AR2 ligands showed that progesterone, a relatively strong AR2 ligand, was present in the primary effluent (1.6 ,g/L) but was removed during the biological treatment step. The detection of multiple fractions with significant binding activity indicates that a variety of compounds in effluents have the potential to masculinize fish near pulp mills via an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism. [source] Endocrine responses of Fundulus heteroclitus to effluent from a bleached-kraft pulp mill before and after installation of reverse osmosis treatment of a waste streamENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 11 2000Monique G. Dubé Abstract Implementation of process changes on the nonbleaching side of bleached kraft pulp mill (BKPM) operations has increased in recent years to maximize resource use and to minimize residual environmental effects of discharged effluents. The objective of this study was to determine if reverse osmosis (RO) treatment of evaporator and digester clean condensates reduced or removed the effects of a BKPM effluent on reproductive endocrine function of the estuarine killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus (mummichog). Comparison of data collected before (1997) and after (1998), the years of the process change, showed that the potential of the combined mill effluent to depress plasma testosterone levels after 30 and 57 d of exposure to an environmentally relevant effluent concentration (1%) was reduced after RO treatment of condensates. However, in vitro production of some sex steroids was depressed with a 1% effluent exposure after the process change. In addition, in 1998, depression of plasma testosterone levels in effluent-exposed fish was present at higher effluent concentrations (5%). These results are significant because they suggest that condensates may be a source of endocrine-disrupting compounds in BKPM effluents and RO may reduce their discharge. [source] Efficiencies of NaOH production methods in a Kraft pulp millINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 15 2009Tobias Richards Abstract There are several processes in a Kraft pulp mill where there is a need for sodium hydroxide, e.g. in the digester and the bleaching plant. The objective of this study is to perform a preliminary evaluation, intended to select the best alternative for producing sodium hydroxide on a Kraft pulp mill site. The first step of the evaluation consists of screening available processes for producing sodium hydroxide needed in the mill. The first step of the evaluation shows that the two best options for increasing the production of sodium hydroxide for internal use in a mill are the conventional lime cycle process or direct causticization with titanates. The second step of the evaluation compares the lime cycle and the titanate process using first and second law analyses to determine the energy requirement and the exergy efficiencies of both processes. Such analyses show a higher energy requirement and a lower exergy efficiency in the titanate process than in the lime cycle process without any heat integration. However, the titanate process shows better performance in terms of energy requirement and exergy efficiency than the lime cycle, if heat is integrated into both processes. The titanate process requires, in the best case, only 80% of the energy required for a fully heat-integrated lime cycle process. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Modeling an industrial energy system: Perspectives on regional heat cooperationINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 9 2008S. Klugman Abstract Through energy efficiency measures, it is possible to reduce heat surplus in the pulp and paper industry. Yet pulp and paper mills situated in countries with a heat demand for residential and commercial buildings for the major part of the year are potential heat suppliers. However, striving to utilize the heat within the mills for efficient energy use could conflict with the delivery of excess heat to a district heating system. As part of a project to optimize a regional energy system, a sulfate pulp mill situated in central Sweden is analyzed, focusing on providing heat and electricity to the mill and its surrounding energy systems. An energy system optimization method based on mixed integer linear programming is used for studying energy system measures on an aggregated level. An extended system, where the mill is integrated in a regional heat market (HM), is evaluated in parallel with the present system. The use of either hot sewage or a heat pump for heat deliveries is analyzed along with process integration measures. The benefits of adding a condensing unit to the back-pressure steam turbine are also investigated. The results show that the use of hot sewage or a heat pump for heat deliveries is beneficial only in combination with extended heat deliveries to an HM. Process integration measures are beneficial and even increase the benefit of selling more heat for district heating. Adding a condensing turbine unit is most beneficial in combination with extended heat deliveries and process integration. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Energy efficiency investments in Kraft pulp mills given uncertain climate policyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2007Anders Ådahl Abstract Energy efficiency measures in pulp mills can potentially reduce the consumption of biofuel, which can instead be exported and used elsewhere. In this paper a methodology is proposed for analysing the robustness of energy efficiency investments in Kraft pulp mills or other industrial process plants equipped with biofuelled combined heat and power units, given uncertain future climate policy. The outlook for biofuel and electricity prices is a key factor for deciding if energy efficiency measures are cost competitive. CO2 emission charges resulting from climate policy are internalized and thus included in electricity and biofuel prices. The proposed methodology includes a price-setting model for biofuel that assumes a constant price ratio between biofuel and electricity in the Nordic countries. Thirteen energy efficiency retrofit measures are analysed for an existing Swedish Kraft pulp mill. Special attention is paid to heat-integrated evaporation using excess process heat. Four possible energy market development paths are considered that reflect different climate policies. Pulp mill energy efficiency investments considered are shown to be robust with respect to uncertain climate policy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Hydrodynamic behaviour of a full-scale anaerobic contact reactor using residence time distribution techniqueJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 5 2009Isabel Capela Abstract BACKGROUND: The knowledge of the fluid pattern of full-scale anaerobic reactors is of fundamental importance for the optimisation of biological processes. High solids concentrations often lead to inefficient mixing conditions, which may reduce treatment capacity due to heterogeneity within the biomass. RESULTS: The hydrodynamic characteristics of a full-scale anaerobic contact reactor treating evaporator condensate from a sulphite pulp mill were investigated. The methodology applied was based on the residence time distribution (RTD) technique using lithium as a tracer. Different non-ideal hydraulic flow models were tested and the best model fitting RTD data was the Gamma distribution model with by-pass. It was concluded that the full-scale bioreactor presents a good degree of mixing with about 22% of non-effective volume due to the presence of high amounts of inorganic materials. CONCLUSION: As a result of this study it was possible to both improve the full-scale bioreactor performance and decrease the running costs by changes in the plant operation strategies which allowed reduction of the huge amount of inorganic materials contributing to the non-effective volume. The methodology is simple and results from a unique RTD experiment and confirms the importance of considering mixing characteristics when assessing complex full-scale treatment processes. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Strategies to reduce the brightness reversion of industrial ECF bleached Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulpJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2008Isabel M. C. L. Sêco Abstract BACKGROUND: Brightness stability is a key property of bleached chemical pulps and is primarily determined by wood species and bleaching process conditions. Eucalyptus globulus is becoming a very important raw material for hardwood pulp production. In spite of this importance, there is a relative lack of systematic studies in the literature dealing with the subject. This research aims to study the effect of some of the foremost bleaching parameters of a DEDD bleaching sequence as well as the effect of a final P stage (DEDP instead of DEDD) in the brightness stability of bleached E. globulus kraft pulps. RESULTS: The increase of the D0 stage temperature from 55 °C to 90 °C caused an increase in brightness stability. Increasing the ClO2 charges from 2.8% to 3.2% also improved significantly the brightness stability. A high H2SO4 charge in the D0 stage (10 kg tonne,1 pulp) diminished the brightness stability. The combination of H2O2 addition to the E stage and ClO2 reduction in the two final D stages does not affect brightness reversion. Raising the D2 stage temperature from 65 °C to 82 °C decreased the brightness reversion, while an increase was obtained when the temperature rose above 82 °C. Substitution of the last ClO2 stage in the DEDD sequence by a H2O2 stage (DEDP) significantly reduced the brightness reversion. CONCLUSION: For an existing pulp mill in which the implementation of new technologies to improve brightness reversion is considered, the results obtained showed that brightness stability can be improved without any significant capital investment. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Tasmania's Tamar Valley Pulp Mill: A Comparison of Planning Processes Using a Good Environmental Governance FrameworkAUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION, Issue 3 2008Fred Gale In November 2004, the Tasmanian government requested the state's planning body, the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC), to undertake an evaluation of a proposal to establish a pulp mill at Long Reach near Bell Bay on Tasmania's Tamar Estuary. In early 2007, Gunns Limited, the project's proponent, pulled out of the RPDC process and the government established an alternative, ,fast-track' process under the Pulp Mill Assessment Act (PMAA). This article evaluates the RPDC and the PMAA assessment processes using a ,good environmental governance' framework composed of eight criteria , transparency, accountability, openness, balance, deliberation, efficiency, science and risk. The comparison reveals that although the RPDC process fell short of the ideal, it was markedly superior to the PMAA process that replaced it. The case highlights how political economic power can be used to the detriment of public planning and the communities and environment that rely on it. [source] Converting waste gases from pulp mills into value-added chemicalsENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 3 2002Tom L. Burgess A combined sorption/catalytic process has been discovered that converts the methanol and mercaptans in Kraft pulp mill waste gas condensates into formaldehyde. A pilot plant was operated at Georgia-Pacific's Brunswick, GA, mill for two years to optimize both sorbents and catalyst. Patents were issued. Applications within Georgia-Pacific and external licensing opportunities for the process are being investigated. The process gives pulp and paper mills a profitable alternative for converting their waste gases to valuable chemicals, as opposed to incineration or biodegradation in treatment ponds. [source] Characterization of putative ligands for a fish gonadal androgen receptor in a pulp mill effluentENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006D. G. Joakim Larsson Abstract Fish exposed to pulp and paper mill effluents often become masculinized. A plausible hypothesisis that this is caused by activation of androgen receptors. The present study aimed to investigate if ligands for the fish gonadal androgen receptor (AR2) are present in pulp mill effluent and to characterize/identify these compounds. Extracts of both primary and biologically treated effluents from a Swedish kraft pulp mill were fractionated chemically. Fractions were tested in competitive binding assays for AR2 from ovaries of the Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus). Primary effluent contained 96 ng dihydrotestosterone equivalents/L, whereas biologically treated effluent was 16 times less potent. Further fractionations and assays of binding activities were performed on the primary effluent. Eight final fractions displaced androgen in the binding assay, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analyses revealed that these contained 37 detectable compounds that were not present in inactive fractions. The majority were moderately polar compounds between 200 and 400 g/mol with hydroxyl/carbonyl groups. Two compounds were ruled out because of their lack of binding to AR2. The mass spectra of a third compound matched that of 4-hydroxy-3 (2-(4-hydroxy-3methoxophenyl)ethyl)-5-metoxyacetophenon, but the remaining candidates could not be fully identified. A search for 21 known steroidal AR2 ligands showed that progesterone, a relatively strong AR2 ligand, was present in the primary effluent (1.6 ,g/L) but was removed during the biological treatment step. The detection of multiple fractions with significant binding activity indicates that a variety of compounds in effluents have the potential to masculinize fish near pulp mills via an androgen receptor-mediated mechanism. [source] Bioluminescence inhibition assays for toxicity screening of wood extractives and biocides in paper mill process watersENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2004Anna Rigol Abstract The risk associated with wood extractives, biocides, and other additives in pulp and paper mill effluents was evaluated by performing a characterization of process waters and effluents in terms of toxicity and chemical analysis. The individual toxicity of 10 resin acids, two unsaturated fatty acids, and three biocides was estimated by measuring the bioluminescence inhibition with a ToxAlert® 100 system. Median effective concentration values (EC50) of 4.3 to 17.9, 1.2 to 1.5, and 0.022 to 0.50 mg/L were obtained, respectively. Mixtures of these three families of compounds showed antagonistic effects. Chemical analysis of process waters was performed by liquid chromatography-and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Biocides such as 2-(thiocyanome-thylthio)-benzotiazole (TCMTB) (EC50 = 0.022 mg/L) and 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilpropionamide (DBNPA) (EC50 = 0.50 mg/L) were the most toxic compounds tested and were detected at concentrations of 16 and 59 ,g/L, respectively, in a closed-circuit recycling paper mill. Process waters from kraft pulp mills, printing paper mills, and packing board paper mills showed the highest concentration of resin acids (up to 400 ,g/L) and accounted for inhibition percentages up to 100%. Detergent degradation products such as nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) and the plasticizer bisphenol A (BPA) were also detected in the waters at levels of 0.6 to 10.6, 0.3 to 1.4, and 0.7 to 187 ,g/L, respectively. However, once these waters were biologically treated, the concentration of detected organic compounds diminished and the toxicity decreased in most cases to values of inhibition lower than 20%. [source] Concentration dependency of biota-sediment accumulation factors for chlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins and dibenzofurans in dungeness crab (Cancer magister) at marine pulp mill sites in British Columbia, CanadaENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 12 2000Walter J. Cretney Abstract Biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for some chlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin and dibenzofuran congeners (PCDD/Fs) in Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) hepatopancreas and associated sediments are concentration independent as required by equilibrium partition models. In particular 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p -dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD), 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, the 2, 3, 7, 8-substituted pentachlorodibenzofurans, and the non-2, 3, 7, 8-hexachlorodibenzofurans (HxCDFs) seem to fall into this group. The BSAFs for other isomers exhibit significant, nonlinear variations with sediment or crab PCDD/F concentrations. For some of these other isomers (e.g., the non-2, 3, 7, 8 TCDDs and possibility the 2, 3, 7, 8-substituted HxCDFs), association of a variable fraction of the total present with soot carbon may provide a satisfactory explanation for the concentration behavior. For the HxCDDs we propose that the nonlinear concentration behavior may arise from the thermodynamic properties of fluids confined in hydrophobic voids within particulate and colloidal material produced by the pulp mills. The nonlinear relationship between BSAFs and PCDD/F concentrations greatly complicates prediction of the potential for dioxin and furan bioaccumulation in crabs and the formulation of sediment quality criteria. We provide a nonlinear equation relating toxic equivalency and sediment concentrations. [source] Energy efficiency investments in Kraft pulp mills given uncertain climate policyINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2007Anders Ådahl Abstract Energy efficiency measures in pulp mills can potentially reduce the consumption of biofuel, which can instead be exported and used elsewhere. In this paper a methodology is proposed for analysing the robustness of energy efficiency investments in Kraft pulp mills or other industrial process plants equipped with biofuelled combined heat and power units, given uncertain future climate policy. The outlook for biofuel and electricity prices is a key factor for deciding if energy efficiency measures are cost competitive. CO2 emission charges resulting from climate policy are internalized and thus included in electricity and biofuel prices. The proposed methodology includes a price-setting model for biofuel that assumes a constant price ratio between biofuel and electricity in the Nordic countries. Thirteen energy efficiency retrofit measures are analysed for an existing Swedish Kraft pulp mill. Special attention is paid to heat-integrated evaporation using excess process heat. Four possible energy market development paths are considered that reflect different climate policies. Pulp mill energy efficiency investments considered are shown to be robust with respect to uncertain climate policy. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] When and Why do Plants Comply?LAW & POLICY, Issue 2 2005Paper Mills in the 1980s This paper uses census data for 116 pulp and paper mills over the period 1979,1990 to examine the determinants of compliance with air pollution regulations. Several plant characteristics are significant: large plants, old plants, and pulp mills comply less frequently, as do plants with water pollution or OSHA violations, but firm characteristics generally are not significant. Enforcement activity increases compliance, but in a heterogeneous way: pulp mills are less sensitive to inspections, while plants owned by larger firms are less sensitive to inspections and more sensitive to "other" enforcement actions, consistent with the authors' expectations and prior research results. [source] | ||||||||||