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Stickie removal using neutral enzymatic repulping pressure screening

Informally Refereed

Abstract

Removal of stickie contaminants is currently a major focus of paper recycling research. Medium consistency alkaline repulping followed by pressure screening has proven to be effective for stickie removal. There is, however, an alternate method that is equally effective and more environmentally benign. This study compares the effectiveness of this alternative method, neutral enzymatic repulping, with conventional alkaline repulping for contaminant removal from a controlled office paper furnish spiked with typical pressure-sensitive adhesives. Neutral repulping on a pilot scale was performed using a mixture of cellulase and lipase preparations at the ambient pH of the paper furnish. Sequential pressure screenings, flotation, and washing comprised the deinking process, and contaminant count on handsheets prepared after each step was used for these evaluations. We found that pressure screening was substantially more effective for contaminant removal when the pH was neutral. The enzyme mixture further enhanced both the freeness and brightness of the deinked pulp. Process water from the enzyme treatment also contained fewer microstickies, an added benefit for improved water quality and mill performance.

Keywords

Neutral enzymatic repulping, stickies, contaminants, paper recycling

Citation

Sykes, Marguerite; Klungness, John; Gleisner, Roland; Abubakr, Said. 1998. Stickie removal using neutral enzymatic repulping pressure screening. TAPPI proceedings, 1998 Recycling Symposium : 8–12 March 1998, New Orleans, LA. Atlanta, GA : TAPPI, 1998: Pages 291-296
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/9081