PRESS RELEASE
7 May 1996
World premiere at:
SPCI ’96, Stockholm
4-7 June 1996
Stand C1:10
New enzyme reduces paper bleaching
costs and saves the environment

A new method, which requires a minimal investment, has made it possible to reduce the cost of bleaching paper pulp. The technique uses a new family of enzymes to increase the efficiency of the pulp bleaching agent. According to the manufacturer, Primalco Biotec, it is the only available method which can cope with process temperatures up to 85ºC and pH levels of up to 8.5. Lower costs and reduced emissions of environmentally harmful bleaching agents are said to be possible using an enzyme which does not effect the taint or strength of the paper pulp.
In order to ensure optimal mixing of the enzyme with the pulp, the company has developed a compact feeder system, the Ecopulp Feeder. This is connected to the bleaching system’s control unit auto-matically ensuring that the correct amount of the enzyme compound is added.

According to the manufacturer, the new enzyme can reduce the amount of chlorine dioxide used in the bleaching process by 15 to 20 per cent. This in turn means lower pulp prices of between 0,5 and 1 per cent.
”Ecopulp is the first enzyme to tackle today’s high process temperatures and alkalinity. Other enzymes are
unable to cope with these conditions and can, therefore, not be used by about 65% of the market. Our new family of enzymes can be used with all kinds of paper pulps and bleaching methods requiring only a small investment”, says Ralf Lundell, Group Manager at Primalco Biotec, Rajamäki, Finland.

More efficient bleaching
The enzyme works by breaking down the hemicellulose of the pulp, a substance which normally retards the reaction between the bleach and the lignin contained in the pulp’s fibres. By making the pulp porous and absorbent, the lignin can be more efficiently removed by the bleaching process.
Ecopulp is available in two types depending upon which process is used at the pulp plant. The enzyme can be used in the pre-treatment phase of any bleaching process which uses chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen or ozone.
Primalco Biotec is a business unit of Primalco Oy, a company within the Finnish Alko Group with a turnover of USD 1 billion. Primalco Biotec specializes in producing enzymes for the pulp and paper, textile and animal feed industries. The company was one of the first enzyme manufacturers in the world to achieve ISO 9002 quality certification./ins

Captions:
(1) The Ecopulp enzyme from Finnish Primalco Biotec, reduces production costs and provides environmental savings in bleaching of craft pulp. The enzyme can cope with process temperatures of up to 85ºC and pH levels of 8.5.

(2) Ecopulp Feeder is a compact feeder unit which auto-
matically ensures that the optimal amount of enzyme is
added to the paper pulp.

For further information contact:
Primalco Biotec Oy
Group Manager, Ralf Lundell
FIN-05200 RAJAMÄKI, Finland
Tel: +358 0 13311, Fax: +358 0 1331236


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