Biotechnology and Economics

Technoeconomic analyzes are performed to determine the potential economic viability of a research process.

1. Let's take a look at the pulp and paper industry
2. We can focus on small minor questions around the paper machine
3. Or we can assess a new profitability model for an entire supply chain from forest to market
   

Evaluating the costs of a given process compared to the current technology can assess the economic feasibility of a project.

These analyzes can be useful in determining which emerging technologies have the highest potential for near-, mid-, and long-term success.

1. We start with small and practical
2. Search for new potentials
3. From the very beginning, a new point of view is essential
   

The results of a Technoeconomic are also useful in directing research toward areas in which improvements will result in the greatest cost reductions.

1. We can save chemicals
   
2. We can increase the runnability of PM
3. Laborating with new bio-degradable products
4. The safety of processes
5. Less corrosion
   

As the economics of a process are evaluated throughout the life of the project, advancement toward the final goal of commercialization can be measured.

Technoeconomics can be used to determine the technical and economic feasibility of various biomass-based systems, including:

• Fermentation
• Hydrolysis
• Direct combustion
• Pyrolysis
• Gasification combined cycle power systems

A journey into biocides in Papermaking

Elias and Juha, I've been digging, googling and traveling the world of paper making today. There are a number of reasons why this area needs more PMEU-attention:

1. Closing of papermachine water circulation
   
2. How to find cost-effective ways to handle slime and film formation
3. Biocides are adding the risk for corrosion
4. The felts are degraded
5. Customer complaints are costly
6. Runnability of the paper machine
   
7. Toxic chemicals are used
8. Health issues at paper machine
   
9. The biocide audit requires a talented task-force
10. The problems are global
11. Recycled paper
    
12. Additives
    

Esterase-type enzymes offer recycled mills an alternative approach to stickies control Pulp & Paper - Find Articles

Esterase-type enzymes offer recycled mills an alternative approach to stickies control Pulp & Paper - Find Articles: "Esterase-type enzymes offer recycled mills an alternative approach to stickies control Pulp & Paper, Feb 2003 by Jones, David R, Fitzhenry, James W ISSUE FOCUS: PAPERMAKING

A new enzyme-based control system breaks macro-stickies into smaller particles that can be removed from the mill process, thus reducing their impact on runnability and paper quality Many North American paper and board mills have to deal with the consequences of using recycled fiber.

One major consequence is dealing with stickies that are a natural component of the recycled fiber used by these mills. Stickies can cause runnability and quality problems, and their variable nature makes them difficult to control.

A new approach to stickies control has been developed that uses esterase-type enzymes to break down the stickies into smaller, less tacky particles.The successful use of these enzymes at three mills is described in this article.

WHAT ARE STICKIES?

Stickies are tacky, hydrophobic, pliable organic materials found in recycled paper systems. They exhibit a broad range of melting points and different degrees of tackiness depending on their composition.

Stickier are composed of a variety of materials including adhesives, styrene-- butadiene latex, rubber, vinyl acrylates, polyisoprene, etc "

International Dioxide, Inc., Applications, Industrial: Paper Machine Wet End

International Dioxide, Inc., Applications, Industrial: Paper Machine Wet End: "The Customer's Needs Chlorine dioxide, a powerful oxidant, can be used very effectively as a slimicide and oxidizer for microbiological control on paper machines wet end.

It controls microorganisms and offensive odors that may affect the quality of your finished product.

Meeting Those Needs With Chlorine Dioxide Chlorine dioxide's unique properties permit it to be mom effective than current oxidizing and nonoxidizing biocide technologies.

Among its outstanding characteristics are:

• It remains a dissolved gas, thereby maintaining 100% activity under varied operating conditions.
  
  
• Effective over a wide pH range of 4-10, providing complete control where incoming stock pH swings are present.
  
  
• Selectively reacts with organic compounds, therefore not forming chlorinated organics, chloroform, dioxins or tribalomethanes, all of which are coming under regulatory pressure.
  
  
• Reacts instantaneously to quickly provide effective biocidal control or remove undesirable contaminants.
  
• At recommended use levels does not create toxic by-products harmful to wildlife or the environment, since a free residual is not required throughout the system.
  

Additional benefits of chlorine dioxide use, as a wet end slimicide include lower corrosion rates on paper machine metallurgy, extended runnability of paper machine, reduced frequency of boilouts of stock chests and a more cost effective microbiological control program.

Advantages

Chlorine dioxide is Widely used in many areas of the paper industry. International Dioxcide develops innovative technologies for the, production of chlorine dioxide, including stabilized solutions, 25% chlorite in drum and bulk and 80% active dry sodium chlorite, and a variety of generation systems, making the company a leader in chlorine dioxide technology."

Ineffective biocide programs jeopardize worker safety, damage mill equipment Pulp & Paper - Find Articles

Ineffective biocide programs jeopardize worker safety, damage mill equipment Pulp & Paper - Find Articles: "Ineffective biocide programs jeopardize worker safety, damage mill equipment Pulp & Paper, Nov 2003 by Robertson, Linda Scrimping :

Biocides can cause off-spec production and even contribute to human fatality, but proper testing, such as a rigorous anaerobic audit, can decrease risks and pinpoint problems Paper mills are under enormous pressure to cut costs in order to stay competitive.

Mills have responded by undergoing water system closure, reducing spending on biocide programs, and, in some cases, lowering water system temperatures to save energy. How do all of these factors affect the microbes growing on the machines?

Has this, in turn, lead to worker safety issues and even the longevity of equipment and materials on the paper machine?

And, if so, how? The additives and fibers used in the papermaking process support the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms.

Papermakers' concern with microbial contamination usually focuses on visible machine microbial deposits that form holes or sheet defects and lead to runnability problems.

These can cause sheet breaks that force the machine to shut down for unscheduled washups or boilouts.

Other costly problems
caused by microbes are overlooked
because they tend to be
difficult to identify.

For example, a drop in pH For example, a drop in pH may signal spoilage of additives or pulp and the potential for foul odors. This article explores the impacts of microbial contamination beyond those that impact paper quality and runnability."

• The Tekes CACTUS report in Finnish.

LINDA ROBERTSON is principal microbiologist for Ondeo Nalco Company, Naperville, Ill.