CONVERSION OF PAPER MILL SLUDGE INTO PULP SUBSTITUTE AND PAPERMAKING CLAY

PROCESS TECHNOLOGY WILL BE DEVELOPED BY OMNNI ENGINEERS TO CONVERT PAPER MILL SLUDGES INTO THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS: LONG-FIBERED PULP SUBSTITUTE, AND PAPERMAKING CLAY FILLER ORCOATING PIGMENT. PREVIOUS RESEARCH BY OMNNI ENGINEERS WAS SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED BY THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROCESS TECHNOLOGY TO SEPARATE PAPER MILL SLUDGE INTO A LONG FIBER FRACTION AND A SHORT FIBER-CLAY FRACTION. THE LONG FIBER FRACTION WAS CONVERTED INTO A HIGH QUALITY PULP SUBSTITUTE WORTH $300-$600/TON BY CLEANING AND BLEACHING. THE PROPOSEDRESEARCH WILL FOCUS ON THE SEPARATION OF THE CLAY FROM THE SHORT FIBER. THE CLAY WILL THEN BE CONVERTED INTO A PAPERMAKING CLAY FILLER OR COATING PIGMENT BY CLEANING AND BLEACHING. THE VALUE OF THE CLAY PRODUCT IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE RANGE OF $100-$200/TON.