Elimination of TRS, VOCs, and Methyl mercaptan:

FreshAWL^® Mill-Fresh™ knocks the stink out the the pulp and paper mill production process:

One of our clients is an International Manufacturer of Pulp and Paper who had a scheduled maintenance shutdown and found FreshAWL^® MILL-FRESH™ during an internet search for a solution to effectively neutralize H₂S (Hydrogen sulfide) and Methyl mercaptan contained in their Noncondensible Gas (NCG) system.

NCG Gas Systems are installed to collect gases from several emission sources and provide for their disposal by incineration or chemical modification.

The primary sources of NCGs in a kraft mill are digesters, evaporators, and turpentine recovery systems. Kraft mill odor can be attributed to four reduced sulfur gases namely: Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), Methyl mercaptan (CH₃SH), Dimethyl sulfide ((CH₃)₂S), and Dimethyl disulfide ((CH₃)₂S₂). Collectively they are referred to as total reduced sulfur (TRS) gases. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) other than those containing sulfur are also emitted during digester relief. Typical constituents are alcohols, terpenes, and phenols.

Our client’s NCG system is a complex piping system that processes NCG from five different input sources then routes them to two boilers for incineration. Before breaking any of the pipe flanges for the maintenance cleaning, the system contained approximately 5,000 gallons of contaminated water, which required neutralization.

The preliminary test of their untreated effluent with a Photo Ionization Detector showed:

NCGs are a safety and environmental hazard in the pulp mill. These gasses can be explosive at certain concentrations and exposure to the fumes is hazardous even at lower levels.

110 gallons of FreshAWL^® Mill-Fresh™ was used to treat their wastewater. The solution contact time was from one-three hours depending on system locale. Once the system was breached the solution was measured for H₂S, Methyl mercaptans, SO₂, VOCs, and NCGs which were all eliminated to readings of ZERO.

Environmental concerns and pressure from the authorities have forced the U.S. pulp mills to continuously reduce the emissions to the atmosphere of particulates and acid gases.

At this pulp mill, their maintenance process went off without a hitch and was a huge success which even made the community news.