SERECARB - SElective REcovery of Calcium CARBonate in paper sludge (SUSPRISE Joint Call)

Status

ongoing

Summary

SERECARB is an industrial research project. It consists of developing a new process based on selective recovery of calcium carbonate from paper mill effluents and sludge, purification, conversion into precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and reuse as filler in paper making.

The main target group of the project are deinking mills, which produce big volumes of effluents and sludge containing high amounts of calcium carbonate.

The interest of deinking mills concentrates within this context on the one hand on the reduction of effluent and sludge to be disposed of, and on the other hand on the production of PCC, a raw material that can be used on-site thus avoiding the purchase of fresh fillers. Alternatively, PCC can be sold to other mills or other industries.

Initial Situation

In the current situation, the paper industry is confronted with huge amounts of sludge. World wide millions of tonnes have to be disposed. The sludge contains a high amount of water, up to 40% and a fair proportion of minerals, round two thirds of dry content, half of it being calcium carbonate. In many cases, this sludge is dumped or land-filled for soil improvement, but this solution is costly (estimated cost in Western Europe: Euro million 28) and limited by legal restrictions. Other solutions, aiming at partial or total recovery of minerals or conversion to valuable products, require transportation of sludge over long distances and complex thermal or chemical treatments. In thermal treatments, energy may be gained by oxidation of organic material in sludge, but an important share is lost in drying the substance prior to incineration.

Objectives

• Demonstrating the technical feasibility a new low temperature process for selective recovery of calcium carbonate in deinking sludge or primary sludge of paper mills using this filler - The aimed end-product is high value-added precipitated calcium carbonate, PCC,
• Assessing process conditions controlling the end-product quality - The PCC can either be used on site or sold,
• Assessing the paper making potential on-site of the produced PCC,
• Assessing the economical interest and environmental benefit by Life Cycle Analysis, technico-economic and market surveys.

Expected Results

Proof-of-concept, demonstration pilot plant and validation of the papermaking value of produced PCC.

Project management

Jean-Yves.Escabasse
Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) - Germany

Project or cooperation partner

• UPM Kymmene GmbH & Co KG - Germany
• GAW Pildner-Steinburg GmbH Nfg & Co KG - Austria
• Millvision bv - Netherlands
• Holzforschung Austria
• Ressourcen Management Agentur (RMA) - Austria

Jean-Yves Escabasse
Papiertechnische Stiftung (PTS) - Germany
E-Mail: Jean-Yves.Escabasse@ptspaper.de