Management of Broke Spoilage, PaperCon '09 Conference

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Broke storage chests in papermaking systems provide favorable conditions for microbial growth. Inadequate control of microbial growth can lead to broke spoilage, which can have a negative impact on product quality or serve as a source of contamination to the wet-end of the papermaking process. A pilot scale Wet End Simulator (WES) was used to evaluate changes in physical and chemical characteristics of the broke throughout the spoilage process. Various methods for monitoring microbiological growth in the broke tower were evaluated. The objective of this work was to develop a better understanding of changes in microbial populations in the broke system, and the impact of their growth on broke quality. Pilot trials indicated that broke towers serve as significant reservoirs for both starch-degrading and spore-forming bacteria. The effects of different spoilage prevention and recovery strategies will be presented.