New low-energy process for production of mechanical pulp

Den framtagna ATMP processen har implementerats i en TMP-fabrik. Resultaten visar att specifika energiförbruket vid raffinering har kunnat minskas med ca 30% i den aktuella fabriken. Parallelt med implementeringen i fullskala har vi undersökt vad det är på fibernivå som gör att vi med den nya tekniken kan reducera specifika energiförbruket. Resultaten visar att kombinationen av mekanisk förbehandling och specifika kemikalier i riktig position bryter specifika bindningar i fiberväggen vilket gör att fibern utveckar förmåga att utvecklas betydligt snabbare än vid traditionell raffinering.

The project aims at develop and support mill scale implementation of new technology for achieving minimum 25% reduction in energy consumption for production of mechanical pulp while maintaining pulp quality and avoiding negative environmental impacts. An evaluation of more than 150 of pilot trials during a research period of eight years with different chemicals has shown a potential reduction in energy consumption upon mechanical pulp refining by at least 25%. Results from mill scale trials using two impo rtant sub-processes of the process concept have confirmed the substantial energy-reducing potential of the novel processes. The new process, called A-TMP, shall be optimized in full scale and at the same time a fundamental study has as goal to understand the mechanisms behind the reduced energy consumption on fibre level. In addition to lower energy consumption, the new installed process shall also produce a pulp with higher brightness and less shives. The status of the wood material when the chemicals sh all react will be very important, both for energy reduction achieved but also for the final pulp properties. The chemical treatment of the fibre wall shall be selective using chemicals in one or several stages during refining of the mechanical pulp