Overview of the BFR (TM) Process and Demonstration Project, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Stephen C. Stratton

Gerald E. Maples

Champion International Corporation

In recent years, concern over potential impacts of bleach plant effluents on the environment has led to changes in pulp bleaching practices and has sparked new interest in elimination of bleaching effluents. Champion International Corp. has been working to develop technology that will enable effluent-free bleaching. The BFR TM process for recycling filtrates from ECF bleach plants was developed through extensive laboratory and computer simulations. In the BFR TM process, bleach plant filtrates are used for pulp washing in a counter-current fashion such that the dissolved solids from bleaching become part of the black liquor. Dissolved organic matter from bleaching is destroyed in the kraft recovery boiler. Chloride resulting from chlorine dioxide bleaching is purged as sodium chloride from the electrostatic precipitator dust by an evaporative crystallization process. Mineral components of the wood are purged from the first chlorine dioxide stage filtrate to minimize the potential for the formation of scale deposits on process equipment. Transition metals that may interfere with pulp bleaching reactions are also removed in this manner. A mill demonstration of the BFR TM process will begin in mid-1995. The purpose of the demonstration is to determine the technical and environmental soundness of the process on a modem OD(EOP)D softwood bleach plant, and to ensure that impacts on mill operations and economics can be effectively managed.