Biomass-based carbon capture and utilization in kraft pulp mills

Abstract

Corporate image, European Emission Trading System and Environmental Regulations, encourage pulp industry to reduce carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions. Kraft pulp mills produce CO 2 mainly in combustion processes. The largest sources are the recovery boiler, the biomass boiler, and the lime kiln. Due to utilizing mostly biomass-based fuels, the CO 2 is largely biogenic. Capture and storage of CO 2 (CCS) could offer pulp and paper industry the possibility to act as site for negative CO 2 emissions. In addition, captured biogenic CO 2 can be used as a raw material for bioproducts. Possibilities for CO 2 utilization include tall oil manufacturing, lignin extraction, and production of precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), depending on local conditions and mill-specific details. In this study, total biomass-based CO 2 capture and storage potential (BECCS) and potential to implement capture and utilization of biomass-based CO 2 (BECCU) in kraft pulp mills were estimated by analyzing the impacts of the processes on the operation of two modern reference mills, a Nordic softwood kraft pulp mill with integrated paper production and a Southern eucalyptus kraft pulp mill. CO 2 capture is energy-intensive, and thus the effects on the energy balances of the mills were estimated. When papermaking is integrated in the mill operations, energy adequacy can be a limiting factor for carbon capture implementation. Global carbon capture potential was estimated based on pulp production data. Kraft pulp mills have notable CO 2 capture potential, while the on-site utilization potential using currently available technologies is lower. The future of these processes depends on technology development, desire to reuse CO 2 , and prospective changes in legislation. Keywords Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage BECCS. Bioenergy with carbon capture and utilization BECCU. Kraft pulp mill. Climate change mitigation. Negative CO 2

The feasibility of utilizing existing process streams in kraft pulp mills as a source of chemicals for lignin extraction

“…There are other possible applications for CO2 at such a mill, but the potential for using other methods that are currently available is relatively low. Kuparinen et al (2019) described how CO2 can be used for acidulation in the production of tall oil and to produce precipitated calcium carbonate. The acidulation of raw soap, which is used to produce tall oil, is normally performed by adding H2SO4.…”

“…Sometimes, spent acid from the chlorine dioxide plant can also be added. However, CO2 is a weaker acid than H2SO4 and only some of the H2SO4 that is required can be replaced with CO2, which corresponds to 4 to 6 kg CO2/ADt (Kuparinen et al 2019). Although the production of CaCO3 varies depending on the local demand, the consumption of CO2 can be 20 kg CO2/ADt (Kuparinen et al 2019).…”

“…However, CO2 is a weaker acid than H2SO4 and only some of the H2SO4 that is required can be replaced with CO2, which corresponds to 4 to 6 kg CO2/ADt (Kuparinen et al 2019). Although the production of CaCO3 varies depending on the local demand, the consumption of CO2 can be 20 kg CO2/ADt (Kuparinen et al 2019). These alternative applications and uses for CO2, combined with lignin extraction methods, can consume up to 17,200 TPA of CO2.…”

Eco‐environmental benefits analysis of EcoPartnerships program of production technology of calcium carbonate from lime mud produced by alkaline papermaking

“…5,6 At present, the treatment methods of papermaking wastewater at home and abroad have been relatively mature, such as alkali recovery, coal water slurry (composite) additives, acid leaching and biochemical method, and so on. 7,8 Among them, the most common and most applied technology is alkali recovery, and the treatment of papermaking wastewater has been basically realized through this technology. 3 However, the treatment of sewage of alkali recovery has led to the production of a large number of solid wastes of lime mud (LM) in the paper industry.…”

Mapping Multi-Level Policy Incentives for Bioenergy With Carbon Capture and Storage in Sweden

“…One prominent example is the biomass-dedicated boiler at Värtaverket in Stockholm with 0.9 Mt biogenic CO 2 released in 2019 (SEPA, 2020). Others, such as many pulp and paper mills, could utilize excess heat to capture CO 2 (Kuparinen et al, 2019). There are also substantial amounts of biogenic CO 2 emitted from Sweden's many waste incineration plants as well as a few larger point sources from biogas and bioethanol production (Fridahl, 2018).…”