PROJECT DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
It is currently very difficult to obtain good quality paper from de-inked pulp using the traditional processes. The only exception is where there is a selection of the whitest papers in the wastes. Otherwise, a number of de-inking stages are required. There are two major problems with the existing process: 1. The quality of the waste paper decreases. 2. Whereas newspapers were once the sole users of recycled paper, a lot of new end users are entering the market (magazines, etc.) and it is becoming difficult to find waste papers ready for recycling. Matussières et Forest, a leader in the recycled paper market, planned to utilise secondary, good quality, non selected papers, which are available in large quantities all over Europe, for the production of white printing and writing paper. This was to be made possible by a major technical breakthrough in the field of de-inking which consists in the use of ozone as a de-inking agent.
OBJECTIVES
Laboratory research on mixed paper de-inking showed the effect of ozone in the whitening of fibres. In the context of the LIFE project, a new recycling process for secondary fibres treatment was developed. Part of the work consisted of the installation of an industrial pilot plant in order to optimise this process. The main objective was the treatment of 60,000 tons of fibres without reducing the quality of the end products.
RESULTS
The proposed de-inking stages were as follows: - preliminary de-inking of waste paper, - acidification of the solution to make it ozone efficient, - ozonification of the solution after concentration of the waste paper mix, - 2 stages of paper bleaching using hydrogen peroxide, -last de-inking step to eliminate residual ink particles. The work was carried out in different stages, which included the development of a new building for the pilot project, the installation of a second bleaching tower into the existing process and the installation of the ozone generator. This unit needed a 60,000 litres oxygen tank, which meant that it was subject to rigeous safety criteria. Test results confirmed the de-inking activity of ozone within the recycling process. An increase in brightness values of up to 20 points ISO were achieved. Although the best ozone efficiency appeared when the ozone stage was followed by a post-flotation step, the ozone stage benefits were limited with regards to brightness (few points). But the subsequent Hydrogen Peroxide bleaching stage was optimised, leading to a brightness increase of more than 5 points ISO. Results show that the process does not degrade the physical properties of the paper. A first assessment of the potential benefits provided by the new process would indicate a potential to faciliate an increase in paper recycling of between 25-28 kg/year and 33-37 kg/year, which corresponds to the treatment of 2,200 million tons of paper per annum. The job satisfaction of employees in recycling companies will be enhanced since the laborious selection work will decrease. Selection costs will also be reduced by up to 40% leading to a global reduction in the cost of paper recycling collection for the citizen and a reduction in the cost of fibres for the paper industry. In conclusion, it could be said that for a given collection area, the amount of available recycled papers for the production of printing and writing paper will be doubled. In 2002, Matussière & Forest received the prestigious International Trophy for Industry from the International Institute for Promotion and Prestige in Geneva, for the implementation of this innovative industrial process which actively protects the environment.The proposed de-inking stages were as follows: - preliminary de-inking of waste paper, - acidification of the solution to make it ozone efficient, - ozonification of the solution after concentration of the waste paper mix, - 2 stages of paper bleaching using hydrogen peroxide, -last de-inking step to eliminate residual ink particles. The work was carried out in different stages, which included the development of a new building for the pilot project, the installation of a second bleaching tower into the existing process and the installation of the ozone generator. This unit needed a 60,000 litres oxygen tank, which meant that it was subject to rigeous safety criteria. Test results confirmed the de-inking activity of ozone within the recycling process. An increase in brightness values of up to 20 points ISO were achieved. Although the best ozone efficiency appeared when the ozone stage was followed by a post-flotation step, the ozone stage benefits were limited with regards to brightness (few points). But the subsequent Hydrogen Peroxide bleaching stage was optimised, leading to a brightness increase of more than 5 points ISO. Results show that the process does not degrade the physical properties of the paper. A first assessment of the potential benefits provided by the new process would indicate a potential to faciliate an increase in paper recycling of between 25-28 kg/year and 33-37 kg/year, which corresponds to the treatment of 2,200 million tons of paper per annum. The job satisfaction of employees in recycling companies will be enhanced since the laborious selection work will decrease. Selection costs will also be reduced by up to 40% leading to a global reduction in the cost of paper recycling collection for the citizen and a reduction in the cost of fibres for the paper industry. In conclusion, it could be said that for a given collection area, the amount of available recycled papers for the production of printing and writing paper will be doubled. In 2002, Matussière & Forest received the prestigious International Trophy for Industry from the International Institute for Promotion and Prestige in Geneva, for the implementation of this innovative industrial process which actively protects the environment.
