Chemi-Mechanical Office Waste Deinking: Effect of Lower Grade Furnishes on Deinked Pulp Quality and Process Design, 1994 Pulping Conference Proceedings

F. J. Sutman, M. K. Letscher, R. J. Dexter

Several components of office wastepaper commonly viewed as problems in ledger deinking systems were processed in a pilot chemi-mechanical deinking sequence at worst case substitution levels into laser-CPO. Deinked pulp quality from these runs was compared to that obtained from 100% laser-CPO processed by the same system. Flotation deinking and bleaching were evaluated as post-processing steps.

Two real world office pack furnishes were characterized and processed through the same deinking sequence. This demonstrated that a variety of office waste furnish components could be utilized without significant negative impact on deinked pulp quality.

The capital and operating costs for a production system based on the pilot chemi-mechanical deinking sequence were compared to costs for a fully mechanical office waste deinking system. The chemi-mechanical systems was shown to be cost-advantageous over the fully mechanical system.