Field Trial of a New Trash Resistant Polymer (TRP) at a Recycle Newsprint Mill, 2000 Papermakers Conference Proceedings

Phillip W. Carter, Andrew J. Dunham, Steven T. Govoni, and Joe Morra, Jeff Davis--A new trash resistant polymer (TRP) was applied as a flocculant to PM#1 at SP Newsprint, Dublin Georgia. This machine produces standard newsprint from 100% peroxide bleached recycle furnish. Data was collected for four days using the following flocculant dosages for approximately one day each: 1.25 lb/t nonionic PAM (benchmark program), 0.62 lb/t TRP (transition dosage), 1.0 lb/t TRP (target dosage), then returning back to 1.25 lb/t nonionic PAM. The addition of 1.0 lb/t of TRP outperformed the benchmark 1.25 lb/t nonionic PAM treatment program with respect to retention, drainage, and formation. Specific benefits observed included an increase in FPAR from 27% to 35%, reduction in fourth section dryer steam consumption, and improvement in sheet formation, evidenced by reduced porosity, higher couch vacuum, and increased sheet formation values. Other sheet properties such as opacity, brightness, residual ink, Mullen, and tear (MD) remained in spec. The performance benefits resulted in a 25-30% reduction in clay flow and lower headbox and silo consistencies. Additionally, the pretrial, benchtop retention and drainage evaluations of the TRP were in good agreement with the results obtained on the machine validating the predictive use of these diagnostic, bench top tools.