Chemical recovery solutions for Indonesian pulp mill

Asia’s rising paper consumption and increased global demand for more environmentally friendly fibres for the apparel industry are driving boosts in pulp-making capacity to convert renewable fibres into a variety of fine paper products and viscose staple.

Indonesia’s Riau province is a major hub for the forestry industry and is home to the operations of the Asia Pacific Resources International Holdings Limited (APRIL) Group, a major producer of bleached hardwood kraft pulp.

APRIL-owned Riau Andalan Pulp and Paper (RAPP) produces pulp at one of the world’s largest paper mills — performing pulping, washing and cleaning steps, which produce an organics-rich liquid stream. When this liquor is burned in the recovery cycle, it generates renewable power that helps the mill become energy self-sufficient. However, over time, the process creates chloride and potassium accumulation, which causes corrosion and boiler fouling, increasing maintenance costs if not tightly controlled.

To prevent efficiency losses and boiler downtime, these chemicals need to be managed. To this end, Veolia will treat 550 tons of precipitator ash per day through its Enhanced Chloride Removal Process (ECRP). Using HPD crystallisation technology, the system is designed to yield the best control of sodium recovery and chloride and potassium removal steps while minimising energy consumption and related emissions.

The specially designed system is set to optimise the chemical recovery process in the transformation of hardwood cellulose into pulp for textile fibres and fine papermaking.

“Once again, we are pleased to work with APRIL and build on the success we have achieved together over the years,” stated Veolia Water Technologies Americas CEO Jim Brown.

“Veolia’s chemical-saving HPD technologies will be key components in the expansion of this important production site in Riau, helping its pulping operations become more resource efficient and sustainable.”

Image courtesy of Veolia Water Technologies.