För att begränsa den globala uppvärmningen till max 1,5 °C krävs åtgärder i form av negativa nettoutsläpp av koldioxid (CO₂). Med negativa utsläpp avses avskiljning och permanent lagring av CO₂ med biogent ursprung, förkortat BECCS (bio-energy with carbon capture and storage). I Sverige finns ca sjuttio större anläggningar som vardera släpper ut över 100 000 ton biogen CO₂ årligen. Tillsammans bidrar de med över 30 miljoner ton CO₂ till atmosfären, varav de största utsläppskällorna återfinns inom pappers- och massaindustrin. Sverige har därmed särskilt goda förutsättningar för att skapa negativa nettoutsläpp av CO₂ vid dessa stora punktutsläppskällor genom att implementera BECCS. Förbränning av svartlut inom svensk massa- och pappersindustrin släpper årligen ut ca 20 miljoner ton biogen CO₂ till atmosfären. Genom att implementera oxyfuelförbränning i befintliga sodapannor skulle det vara möjligt att skapa negativa nettoutsläpp av CO₂ vid dessa stora punktutsläppskällor.

Oxyfuelförbränning, som innebär att förbränningsluften ersätts med syrgas spädd med recirkulerade rökgaser, medför en ström av lättillgänglig CO₂. Under senare år har oxyfuelförbränning fått stort intresse tack vare förbättrade möjligheter till enkel och billig CCS. En fördel med tekniken är att den går att implementera i befintliga pannor. Efter konventionell rökgasrening och kondensation av vattenånga återstår endast en högkoncentrerad ström av CO₂ som är möjlig att komprimera direkt utan ytterligare rening för vidare permanent lagring. Oxyfuelförbränning innebär därmed att komplicerade, dyra och energiintensiva CO₂-infångningssteg helt kan undvikas.

Genom detta projekt skapas förutsättningar för att implementera nya industriella lösningar inom massa- och pappersindustrin, som på sikt kan resultera i betydande tekniksprång mot kraftigt reducerade svenska utsläpp av växthusgaser. Projektets målsättning är att ta fram väsentlig kunskap för framtida implementering. Eftersom smältakemin i sodapannan påverkar hela brukets kemikalieåtervinning, så innebär projektet att öka förståelsen kring viktiga kemitekniska utmaningar och möjligheter som behöver beaktas inför konvertering till oxyfuelförbränning. Några av projektets konkreta mål är att:

• Genomföra omfattande experimentella tester med svartlut under varierande oxyfuelbetingelser 
• Ta fram en modell som beskriver den komplexa kemin i sodapannan under olika oxyfuelbetingelser
• Uppskatta kostnader för framtida implementering av oxyfuelkonceptet vid en befintlig svensk sodapanna och beräkna potentialen för CO₂-reduktion från densamma, förutsatt en bibehållen ångproduktion
• Tillgängliggöra lärdomarna genom vetenskapliga publikationer

The combination of RISE collective expertise in key areas such as fibre science, papermaking, converting, barriers and their analysis, enables development of new fibre formulations, improve the fibre forming process technologies, develop novel product solutions and adapted analysis methods. At RISE, it is possible to study these fibrous materials in industrially relevant and novel forming techniques.

Paper forming and fibre moulding technologies

The formed fibre area, explained by means of operation possibilities, is divided into:

• 3D-forming of paper - including production of stretchable papers
  • Embossing, pressforming, hydroforming, deep drawing, pilot production equipment for stretchable papers
• Wet moulding
  • Stock preparation, large scale laboratory wet moulding with three press stations, fully automated and continuous wet moulding machine is planned to be launched at RISE in 2023
• Dry moulding
  • Fibre disintegration at laboratory scale, airlaid mat production at laboratory scale and laboratory equipment for high temperature-high pressure pressing

Focus and opportunities

Our focus is both on material development for enhanced product performance and barrier properties, as well as on process for efficiency and choice of strategy in a wider system of scope. RISE offers opportunities to develop and test new and traditional concepts by use of experimental equipment for moulding and evaluation of products, in terms of for example:

• Fibre morphology and formulation effect on processing and product properties.
• Impact of process parameters towards a more cost-effective product and enhanced product functionality.
• Material, surface and process design towards barrier properties.
• Understanding the impact of tool specifics on product and process performance.
• Analyses and methods for controlling the process and product quality.

Some of the reference projects are within following areas:

• New product development
• Material strength improvement
• Optimized surface smoothness
• Chemical addition in pulp
• Coatings and barriers
• Printability studies
• Forming and casting solutions
• Raw material and stock preparation
• Benchmarking
• Prototyping
• Performance verification and standardized measurements
• Stretchable paper for forming
• Plastic replacement

By combining different technical solutions and expertise along the entire value cycle, RISE can help transforming your packaging from plastic to fibre based or improve the performance or process efficiency in a current fibre based packaging solution.

Water quality impacts process performance

The increasing need for papermakers to reduce water use leads to the increase of dissolved substances and colloidal material in paper machine water loops. Such contaminants impact machine performance through their negative impact on the process, particularly wet end chemistry. This impact can lead to increased costs for papermakers tied to poor process stability, high chemical consumption, and poor drainage which subsequently results in increased energy requirements in drying. Water contaminants also increase risks tied to bacterial deposits and slimes in the process.

A focus on water management

At RISE we work directly with industry to solve problems related to water management. We aim to reduce direct and indirect costs, impacts and risks related to water with the ultimate goal to improve productivity in papermaking. RISE can help papermakers with:

• Identification of water re-use possibilities and improvement of water loop separation
• Identification of key contaminants in the process, their source, and both the cost and risks they pose to the process
• Evaluation of alternatives to control contaminant buildup in processes including lab and pilot evaluation, techno-economical assessment and feasibility studies.
• Identification of microbiological impacts and techniques to minimise biological impact on the process.
• Evaluation of water cleaning technologies to act as kidneys for decontamination of water loops and advanced combinations of treatment technologies.
• Assessment of recourse recovery opportunities from water streams.

RISE have been working with processes for separation of lignin for a long time. This work has for example resulted in the development of the LignoBoost process in collaboration with Chalmers University of Technology. The LignoBoost process IPR is nowadays owned by Valmet who have commercialised it with support from RISE. RISE has equipments in both lab, pilot and demo scale for running the LignoBoost process. RISE has also a well-equipped analysis lab with a lot of tools to characterise lignin products and their properties to support the development of separation processes. However, RISE is not only working with the LignoBoost process, but also other processes and modifications thereof in order to fit the process to the feedstock (liquor from pulping of hardwood, softwood or agriculture residues) and to the pulping technology (kraft or soda). Furthermore, we do also adjust the separation method dependent on the application of the lignin product, e.g. would it be more beneficial with a more condensed or reactive lignin, more or less impurities like polysaccharides and metals, etc. If you are unsure which quality will fit your product best, we can of course guide you. Custom made solutions are our expertise!

If you want to learn more, please click on the links below or contact us!