Improved pulp wash

with carbon dioxide

Linde and the Pulp and Paper Industry
Linde is a major supplier of industrial gases to the pulp and paper industry. The countries of
Northern Europe have vital national resources in their vast forests, and consequently forest
products continue to be a major earner of export income.
Being the leading gas supplier in this region, Linde has dedicated itself to serve this cross-
border forest industry. The development of the pulp and paper industry in Northern Europe has
accelerated in the last few decades, in particular due to advances in more sophisticated
technology. One of the driving forces for this development has been new market demands
demands that have often been enveloped in environmental terms. These days, every mill and

ADALKA, CODIP and GRAFICO are registered trademarks of the Linde Group
every process calls for special consideration, and this is why developing practical and profitable
applications for them also calls for special experience.

This is where Lindes specialized know-
ledge of gas application technology and
its fundamental knowledge of pulp and
paper processing comes to the aid of the
industry in reaching its goal.
At Linde, our aim has always been to
use this specialized knowledge to design
and develop systems that will not only im-
prove overall process efficiency, but will
also help the industry reduce environ-
mentally negative effluents.
We have extensive experience and
knowledge, for example, in the areas of
oxygen delignification and ozone bleaching
as well as various CO2 applications for
both pulp and paper processes.
Linde offers a number of specific
applications for paper production. In order
to control pH, alkalinity and calcium hard-
ness in the stock preparation process for
papermaking, for example, we have devel-
oped the ADALKA process stabilizer,
the CODIP process improver and the
GRAFICO calcium carbonate saver, not
to mention a number of other tailor-made
solutions.
CO2 has been extensively used in the
pulping process since the beginning of
the 1990s. Today, CO2 addition to pulp
washing is a patented, established tech-
nology that is used in more than 30 fiber
lines worldwide in both unbleached and
bleached fiber lines. The technology has
been specifically designed to improve
washing performance, which is of particular
importance from an economical as well
as an environmental viewpoint.

CO2 pulp wash technology

Whatever the pulp mill, pulp washing is
one of the most important process stages.
Poor washing conditions lead to higher
water and chemical consumption. It also
reduces the effectiveness of water treat-
ment and chemical recovery operations.
All these factors tend to magnify plant
costs or effluent problems. Our CO2 wash
technology will help you significantly im-
prove your wash results with substantial
economical benefits. It is important to
note that CO2 can be added in many
different ways and positions depending
on your specific needs with a minimum
of investment.
Linde has witnessed positive effects of
CO2 in various types and brands of
washers, e.g. screw washers, vacuum and
pressure washers, displacement washers
and belt washers. This has been success-
fully carried out not only on old limited
washlines, but also on new washlines.
The prime reason that investment costs
are low is that the CO2 pulp wash process
calls for no design modification whatsoever.
This means that you will find it is both quick
and easy to start using carbon dioxide in
pulp washing.

CO2 is used in more than 30 washlines in various ways,

depending on specific needs.

CO2
Wash liquor

Pulp

Fig.1. Schematic drawing

of a simplified washline
with a filter and a press.
Benefits of the
Linde CO2 pulp
wash process
Adding CO2 to the alkaline
wash liquor where it is rapidly
dissolved accomplishes
two things:
First, the pH level is reduced at
the point of addition, causing a
significant reduction in fiber
swelling.
CO2
And, second, there is a formation
of both carbonate and hydro-
carbonate ions.
Capacity
Capacity
CO2
Fig. 2. Reduced fiber swelling
improves dewatering and leads to
an increased capacity.
Quick response when
applying CO2
An effect of our process is related to pH
and ion exchange, which reduces fiber
swelling. An immediate result is that de-
watering capability is notably improved.
This benefit has shown to be of significant
importance in fiber lines running high-
kappa pulps where washing capacity is
often limited. Such limited capacity often
results in excessively low consistency, or
it may even cause some pulp to be by-
passed. But the addition of CO2 has
clearly been shown to improve capacity
considerably. The increased removal of
dirty filtrate has also produced positive
results in the paper mill in the form of
reduced carryover and a far more stable
pH level for the pulp. There are also fewer
instances of insufficiently washed pulp.
Defoamers
Defoamers
CO2
Fig. 3. The addition of CO2 reduces
the need for defoamers.
Cleaner equipment
with CO2 addition
The increase in carbonate concentration
influences the process in two specific
ways. Carbonate reacts with the nearly
insoluble calcium soaps, converting them
into soluble soaps. This noticeably reduces
the level of resin deposits on the washing
equipment.
Second, the soluble soaps that are
produced will act as surface-tension-
reducing detergents. This improves the
removal of dissolved organics while
reducing the foaming tendency of the
liquor. A noted result has been a cut in
defoamer usage of up to 50%.
 COD
COD in washed pulp
CO2
Fig. 4. The addition of CO2
reduces COD in washed pulp.
Economical
benefits
Objectives for the use of CO2 pulp wash:
increased production rate
reduced carryover from the wash plant
reduced consumption of required
chemicals
reduced wash-water volumes
savings in steam consumption
reduced effluent load
reduced maintenance costs
The results may vary somewhat, since
washing conditions and the demands of
process improvement vary from mill to
mill.
Na loss
Na in washed pulp
CO2
Fig. 5. CO2 addition reduces Na
loss.
However, we have succeeded in boosting
washing capacity by up to 15% in a num-
ber of washlines. We have also been able
to see reductions of COD and Na levels
in washed pulp of up to 2030%, which
in some cases has lead to a notable
reduction in the consumption of required
chemicals.
An economical option, on the other
hand, might preferably be to use the
improved washing efficiency to reduce the
amount of water consumed. It has been
possible to reduce wash-water flows by
20%. This will, in turn, lead to a cut in steam
consumption, which may well be of impor-
tance especially when the evaporation plant
represents a bottle-neck in the process.
Wash water usage
Wash water
CO2
Fig. 6. CO2 addition reduces wash
water usage.
CO2 pulp wash a versatile
tool in the right hands
The experience we have gained from
extensive commercial operation has
shown that the CO2 amount and the opti-
mal point of addition tend to be specific
to each fiber line. This is why after a
technical estimation of the potential of CO2
wash technology our specialists always
perform a mill trial in order to determine
maximum efficiency.
All credit to sound technical planning,
but nothing can beat hands-on work at
the site. Thats why our experienced
specialists will be there on your site to
give you a hand in reaching the best
possible CO2 pulp washing results.
 Korsns:
a showcase of successful CO2 addition

Photo: Lars Bygdemark

Korsns produces board, paper, and fluff pulp for
hygienic products. It has been a proven leader in
pulp and paper technology for many years. Today,
annual pulp production at its highly efficient process-
ing plant amounts to approximately 660,000 tonnes,
360,000 tonnes of which represent bleached pulp.
When contact was first made between Linde and
Korsns with regard to the addition of CO2 to the
pulp wash process, it was not long before a process-
trial agreement had been reached. The experience
gained in those initial trials made it possible to opti-
mize the process and achieve the improvements in
runnability and washing that Korsns had set as its
priority targets. The process has, of course, now
been in commercial operation for a number of years
in both bleached and unbleached washlines, and
with continued process improvements. The success
of this CO2 technology means that Korsns has
successively strengthened its position as a techno-
logical leader in the industry. Another prime reason
for its leading position, however, is that Korsns is,
and always has been, a company that is open to
concepts and proposals intended to strengthen
improvements in its processing systems.

How efficient is your pulp washing?

Pulp washing is one of the most important process stages in any mill. Less than satis-
factory washing conditions will quite likely cause a higher consumption of wash water
and an increased use of defoamers and required chemicals. Everyone of these repre-
sents a factor that leads to increased cost and greater effluent problems.
Take a good look at the benefits of our process as presented. We sincerely believe
that you will come to the conclusion that more in-depth discussions are called for.
Contact us for specific facts about your specific conditions. We have a team of
specialist standing ready.
Linde Gas & Engineering
SDP Pulp & Paper
Phone: +46 8 731 10 00
E-mail: co2pulpwash@linde-gas.com
 Linde Gas
Making the difference
Linde Gas is in the business of making a
difference in everything we do. For the
benefit of our customers. Through
innovative solutions within manufac-
turing industry, metallurgy, chemistry,
food processing, medicine, specialty
gases, alternative fuel technologies
Subject to alteration. Printed on chlorine-free bleached paper.
and the environment. This difference
is reflected in our position as a leading
company in Europe and as a major
driving force world-wide.
Gas technology that works for you
0603 - 1.1 pi
43490778
Created through forward thinking, a
close customer relationship and a sound
business sense, the Linde Gas combination
of gas products and support services, in-
novative hardware, customized solutions
and on-site supply systems generates
new and profitable opportunities.
Linde Gas technology daily drives
entrepreneurship the world over with our
employees all working concertedly to
keep making that difference.
Linde AG
Linde Gas Division
Phone: +49 89 7446-0
Fax: +49 89 7446-1230
www.linde-gas.com