Minutes of Meeting

INTRODUCTIONS AND BUSINESS

• 47 members and guests were present
  

1.0 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Projects - Jeff Tolan

1.1 Gary Brooks gave an update on EPA Cluster Rules. Highlights include:

• Not much has changed from Spring meeting.
  
• Cluster Rules to be signed in to effect today by Carol Browner EPA.
  
• 3 year approval and fully compliance by 2000.
  
• Apply to papergrade kraft plus others.
  
• Using BAT (best available technology) is no guarantee to meet regulations.
  
• TCDD - ND.
  
• AOX - 0.448 Kg/Tonne.
  
• TCDF - 1/2 Canadian limit.
  
• COD - not included yet.
  
• BOD, Suspended Solids - unchanged.
  
• Incentives are not known.

1.2 Environment Committee Liaison Report - Murray Walters

• One (1) meeting cancelled.
  
• Two projects on the go - COD and Activated Sludge practices. Will present results at next meeting.

1.3 One suggested project is the status of mill closure in Canada, and world-wide. Al Hitzroth of Crestbrook updated activities at his mill.

1.4 Mill closure research at Paprican. Jean Bouchard to get a speaker for Spring meeting.

1.5 ISO 14000 status. One mill (Crestbrook) is certified, 10 have started the process, and 3 have not committed to certification.

2.0 TEACHING BLEACHING

Stuart Scott for Rae Cunnington

2.1 The Environment Committee still wishes to pursue a "minimum impact" course, suggesting it might now take the form of a week long course, either prior to or after the Environment Conference. The first part of the course could cover items of joint interest and then the course participants would break into individual groups for specific topics such as bleached kraft mills.

• Some issues that may be considered for the Environmental Course are:
  
• Does the Committee believe there is a need for a course at this time - MAYBE.
  
• Is there enough time available to prepare a suitable course? YES.
  
• What input would our Committee want to have in order for it to co-sponsor the course - COURSE CONTENT.
  
• What topics would our Committee want covered in the course? CANADIAN EXPERIENCE.
  
• Would it be better to wait another year, in view of recent courses etc., and organize a joint course on "minimum impact"?
  
• Would a week long course back to back with a conference work? NO.
  
• Are there likely to be different participants for the conference and course?
  
• Who would be the appointed Bleaching Committee Coordinator? NORM LIEBERGOTT.
  
• Would a short course be more appropriate? YES - 3 day.
  
• Does the Bleaching Committee have suggestions for possible course leader? NORM WILL HAVE INPUT.
  
• Responses from our Committee meeting will be sent to Carmi Lato.

2.2

• Teaching Bleaching Course - 2 years ago 60 people, this year 38 people registered, and 31 attended.
  
• 11 Instructors.
  
• Late in advertising. Should be out at annual meeting.
  
• Harmac - mill people for lectures.
  
• Excellent accommodations.
  
• All chemical pulps were covered.
  
• Covered all facets; cooking to 0₂ delig. through all bleach reversion, pulp quality, new chemicals, ozone, bleaching sensors, scrubbers, towers, mixing, pumping, washing, TCF water re-use, closed cycle mills. Current and future technology, polysulphides, etc, problem session and mill visit.
  
• Should this be annual? YES.
  
• Maybe a short course. East/West.
  
• Mill Operators/Junior Engineers, practical objectives.
  
• Agreed to swing East/Middle/Western Canada.
  
• Need commitment from host area mills.
  
• 3 day short course.
  

3.0 BLEACHING EQUIPMENT

Bleaching Equipment - Dennis Owen
Committee Members - Don Olson, Tina Larson, Paul Herar, Tony Gomersall, Yvon Bibeau, Les Kosiak, Marc Thibaudeau, Jim Oei, Murray Walters, Steve Frechette, Kris Holm, Bob Ostaff, Jim Menard, Timothy Rowe, Robs Anderson, Dennis Owen, and Don McCabe.

Projects:

3.1 Troubleshooting of generators (Dennis Owen - presentation not here).

• Very important to find cause, not to treat effect, e.g., filter problem. Root cause may be water, chemical, Operator error.

3.2 Variability in Fiberline (Gerry Pageau not here). Don Olson (Chair) with Ralph Lunn, Tony Gomersall, Tina Larson and Dan Davies.

3.3 Kappa Analyzer (Don McCabe, Murray Walters, Jim Oei and Tim Rowe).

• Kappa analyzer survey drawn up and distributed for comments on content.
  
• Survey will be modified and sent out in January.

3.4 Fibre Quality (Stuart Jack did some work in Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada '95 Annual meeting).

• Will be roundtable at annual meeting on this. Need mill participation.
  
• Stuart Scott to send note to Paul Herar, Les Kosiak, and Don McCabe's mill to encourage Mill Manager to allow mill people to be part of the roundtable at the annual meeting.

3.5 Scrubber - Dennis will update his previous work. (Murray Walters, Kris Holm, Bob Ostaff, and Paul Herar).

• Cluster rules will require 99% efficiency or 10 ppm Cl0₂.

3.6 Cl0₂ Generator Efficiency and Yield - Dennis Owen, including analyzers - Marc Thibaudeau and Paul Herar.

3.7 Paprispec - ask Germy Ferweda whether his survey results detecting plastic will be presented at a future bleaching meeting.

New Projects

3.8.1 Thick Stock Pumping - Yvon Bibeau, Jim Menard, Marc Thibaudeau.

3.8.2 Mini 0₂ - Jim Oei (Dennis knows of some in U.S.) (ask Germy Ferweda if he will join).

3.8.3 Extraction Stage Washers - ask Ralph Lunn at Celgar if he will be willing to chair this.

3.8.4 List of surveys available - Dennis will talk to Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada to find location of reports and put on WEB page.

4.0 BLEACHING PROTOCOL

Meeting of the Protocol Sub-Committee - Jean Bouchard for Gary Berndt
4.1

• People present: Gilles St. Jean, Dan Davies, Murray Walters, and Jean Bouchard.
  
• JPPS is accepting both Tappi and Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada protocols.
  
• Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada Guidelines for Authors now includes the Protocol.
  
• Dan Davies will do his best to cover Western Canada for Protocol presentation. He will look for someone to do the same in French when the translation comes out.
  
• Engineering Data Sheet E-7 "Bleaching Protocol" is done and will be sent late fall. (Glen Black). Check for French translation (J. Bouchard).
  
• Possible presentation of the Protocol at the IPBC in 2000 in Canada.
  
• French translation. Almost complete. Will be given to Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada in
  
• 1997 - G. St. Jean / J. Bouchard.
  
• Dan Davies did a presentation of the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada Protocol last week to Tappi Bleaching Committee meeting in San Francisco.

5.0 ANNUAL MEETING

Attendees: Jim Collins, Dan Davies, Eric Yee, Gilles St. Jean, Jean Bouchard, Doug Peeling, and Dave Willis

Annual Meeting Sub-Committee Report - Chris Kanters

Primary Objectives

• To identify current and emerging technical topics in the area of pulp bleaching which are of interest to the industry.
  
• To solicit technical papers/presenters in these key areas.
  
• To evaluate technical papers submitted for presentation at the Annual Meeting.
  
• To assemble and coordinate the Bleaching Committee sponsored sessions at the annual meeting.

Current Sub-Committee Membership

• Stuart Scott, Jack Ayton, Chris Kanters, Dan Davies, Jean Bouchard, Rosanna DiLabio, Jim Collins.

Current Sub-Committee Activities

• Agenda for three Bleaching Committee-Sponsored Sessions at the 1998 Annual Meeting has been finalized .

Outstanding Items

• Currently seeking supplier donations for "Token of Appreciation" for speakers and panelists - deadline DECEMBER 1ST.
  
• Due to last minute cancellations, sub-committee is looking for one or two more panelists for the session on "The Impact of Changes in Pulping and Bleaching Practices on Pulp Quality".

6.0 INTERNET

Attendees: Jim Collins, Dan Davies, Doug Peeling, Dave Willis, and Tony Gomersall

Internet Sub-Committee - Chris Kanters

Primary Objectives

• To explore ways in which the Bleaching Committee can take advantage of the Internet as a communication tool.
  
• To inform committee members of information, wet sites, usegroups, etc., on the subject of "Pulp Bleaching" available to them on the Internet.

Current Members

• Jim Collins, Chris Kanters, Dan Davies, Ted Tam

Over 30 members on the committee currently have Internet E-mail addresses

• Jim Collins has updated list of E-mail addresses (will be attached to the minutes).
  
• Sub-Committee suggests setting up a nickname for Bleaching Committee within your E-mailer to facilitate sending out information to other members.

Current Sub-Committee Activities

• Use of E-mailer to conduct "Cyber Equivalent" of Bleaching Committee Problems and Opportunities session.
  
• Restricted access web page (for Bleaching Committee Members only) has been constructed as an off-shoot of the Pulp and Paper Technical Association of Canada web site (see overheads).

• Sub-Committee will provide list of relevant web sites (academic, industry, supplier, etc) at the Spring meeting.

7.0 BLEACHING CHEMICALS

Bleaching Chemicals - Jim Collins (for John Griffiths)

Members present: Bob Ostaff, Alan Hitzroth, Jim Collins, Jim Oei, Steve Frechette, Timothy Rowe, Marc Thibaudeau, Kris Holm, Gordon Brown, Doug Peeling, Robs Anderson, Jeff Tolan, Vince Bacani, Eric Yee, Paul Herar, Dennis Owen, Tina Larson, and Dave Willis.

• 20 Members and guests present.
  
• E.B. Eddy will be alternating persons for the Bleaching Committee meetings, so John Griffiths will be resigning as Sub-Committee Chair. Chris Kanters has volunteered to take over as Sub-Committee Chair.

7.1.0 Impact of Various Bleaching Sequences on Pulp Strength Properties - Norm Liebergott

• At the spring '97 meeting, Norm Liebergott brought forwarding the stack of papers to be reviewed.
  
• The stack was divided among three members (Don McCabe, Dave Willis and John Griffiths) to review over the summer. A summary of the results was to be presented at the Fall '97 sub-committee meeting.
  
• Don McCabe presented a summary of the papers he reviewed. His notes are stated below.
  
• The review from the other volunteers will be presented at the next meeting.

Viscosity VS. D1 Bleaching After Do Bleaching - Norm Liebergott

• D1 stage viscosity may show higher numbers after Do bleaching than with the use of chlorine, and the point when the viscosity
• starts to drop off is at a relative higher number. May not be able to do direct comparisons with viscosities when chlorine is used. Need to check for individual pulps.
  
• Norm Liebergott will be providing further information at the next Bleaching Committee meeting Technical Session.
  
• Norm also submitted several tables and graphs regarding "Technologies to Reduce Bleaching Pollution", "Bleaching Chemical Use: a Worldwide Perspective", Chemical used in Bleaching", and Bleaching Chemicals - Enzymes/Chelants".

Bleaching Sequences VS. Pulp Strength - Don McCabe

• Many papers were handed out by Norm Liebergott to be reviewed by 3 people.
  
• Don McCabe reviewed 8 papers - 1 of which was relevant. The relevant paper listed possible causes:
  

1. Reduction in Molecular Weight:
   
   • A survey of 7 mills showed a reduction of 10 - 33% on wet zero span. Loss reduction was equal across each stage.
     
   • Many papers were quoted describing the correlation and lack between MW and viscosity.
     
2. Mechanical Damage:
   
   • The increase in kinks and curls was seen across Bleach Plants.
     
   • Tear rose and tensile dropped as expected. Stretch increased and elasticity decreased.
     
   • Bleaching tended to "fix" the kinks and curls.
     
3. Bonding:
   
   • Loss of hemicellulose in E-stages reduced fibre to fibre bond strength.
     
4. Cell Wall Structure:
   
   • X-ray diffraction was used to determine the crystallinity of the cellulose.
     
   • Cellulose exposed to NH3 and high concentration of NaOH had greater crystallinity.
     
5. Conformability:
   
   • Cell wall collapse through the bleaching was seen. Increased bonding is thought to be offset by loss of hemicellulose.

CONCLUSION

• Many problems in understanding how fibres change in Bleach Plant.
  
• Interpretation of results can be conflicting depending on each author's point of view.
  
• Need more work in understanding what to measure and what the tests mean.

7.2.0 Safe Handling of Bleaching Chemicals -
The Continuing Saga

• No presentations were conducted at the Fall '97 meeting.

7.2.1 Future Presentations

• Suggestions were made for future presentations on the safe handling of chemicals. Chemical to
• be discussed with priority is as follows:

1. Sulphur Dioxide - Spring/98 (Dennis Owen will approach Marselux/Cominco for presentation at the Spring/98 meeting).
   
2. Chlorine Dioxide - Fall/98 (Dennis Owen will approach Sterling for possible presentation at the Fall/98 meeting).
   
3. Chlorate - Nancy van Allen - Spring/99.

7.3.0 Alternatives to the Use of S0₂ as an Antichlor -
Robs Anderson

• Will be a presentation at the next meeting on the alternates of S0₂ as an antichlor. This session will be organized
• by Robs Anderson.
  
• Alternates (NaOH, H₂0₂, bisulphite, none, use of Polarox for control).
  
• Pros / Cons.
  
• Trial Results.

• Peroxide as Antichlor
  
• Kris Holm from Domtar, Cornwall reported on several trials they have been conducting on the use of peroxide as an antichlor.
  
• Chemical usage and cost.
  
• Steam costs.
  
• Residual peroxide measurements and detection.
  
• Final pH results.
  
• Still assessing the results, no negative impacts, still working out the positive impacts.
  
• Tony Gomersall has made available some work they have undertaken regarding the use of a Polarox sensor to control the addition of S0₂ for neutralization of chlorine dioxide residual with sulphur dioxide. The paper will be made available in the minutes of people want it.

7.4.0 Acidification of Brown Stock Prior to Do Bleaching - Ralph Lunn

• In September, 1997, Ralph Lunn distributed a survey of "Do Stage Acid Addition" to the mill representatives.
  
• Ralph Lunn will be presenting the survey results at the Spring/98 meeting.
  
• Mill Trials - Celgar:
  
  • Celgar has been undergoing trials regarding acidification of brown stock.
    
  • Ralph Lunn and Jeff Tolan will be presenting the trial results at the Spring '98 meeting.
    
  • Jeff Tolan presented initial trial results at this meeting. Ralph Lunn will probably present further results at the Spring '98
  • meeting.
    
  • Jeff Tolan also reported on the sources of acidity into the Do stage, acidity of Cl0₂ solution, acidity of Do acidity, and reported minimum ratios of Cl0₂/soda to avoid the use of acid and summarized Canadian Do practice. His slides are attached to the minutes.

7.5.0 Safety Incidents - Dennis Owen

Several incidents were reported. Full incident reports will be submitted to Dennis Owen and distributed to the Bleaching Committee Members.

Fort James - Marathon Limited:

Major Cl0₂ puff in generator vent scrubber after a forced power shutdown. When power returned, started recirculating pump on generator. Water to plant was not on yet. About 10 minutes later a major puff occurred, probably in vent scrubber. Blew lids off saltcake filter, blew exhaust fan apart and blew 6 feet of the top of the stack. Puff was heard up to a mile away.

Repap - Miramichi:

Retainer broke on retainer for S0₂ duplex strainer. 30 tons of liquid S0₂ was discharged.

Western Pulp - Squamish:

S0₂ tank car leak. Crack at valve. An incident report has been submitted.

Finished unloading S0₂, bleed S0₂ line off, disconnected unloading hose, liquid S0₂ sprayed on Operator's legs burning him. In the confusion, the Operator lost his respirator, then was gassed with S0₂.

Grande Prairie reported on a similar incident they had regarding this. They found that the bleed valve on the truck was plugged. Tina Larson will forward their report to Dennis Owen and also to Gary Berndt.

Fletcher Challenge - Elk Falls:

R8 incident regarding a DCS card failure and fuse failure. System went down, but the fuse problems negated one interlock going down.

Dennis commented that there has been several incidents regarding this recently. He will approach EKA Nobel to get few names from DCS suppliers to take to on this matter.

• Peroxide Tank Explosion (reported by Robs Anderson):
  
  • Mills need to be careful regarding the possible mixing of chemicals in storage tanks.
    
  • Incident occurred with EDTA was unloaded into a peroxide tank. Tank exploded.
    
  • Truck driver did not what he was carrying.
    
  • Security directed him to the wrong tank to unload.
    
  • Could not read or understand shipping documents.
    
  • No checks undertaken before unloading.
    
  • Unloading connections not compatible.
    
  • Rigged up new connections.
    
  • Unloaded load.
    
  • Exploded, flew over plant and landed 5000 feet away in an empty lagoon.
    
• Methanol Line Explosion (from USA):
  
  • Methanol line backed up with chlorate crystal. Bridge of chlorate broke and acid backed up into methanol line. Methanol line exploded.
  
  
• New Incidents Reporting:
  
  • If there are any new incidents, please report them to Dennis Owen. He will write up the incident, get approval, and send the incident report out to the members.
    
  • The incident reports will be published on the Bleaching Committee Website.