Biorefinery Opportunities in a Thermomechanical Pulping Mill

An Australian paper mill, which produces newsprint, was analyzed for waste streams for possible value-addition. Four process streams, a waste fiber stream, a process water stream and two wastewater streams, were identified as the potential targets for value-addition. Three potential value-added products from the above four streams were identified. The waste fiber stream could be successfully upgraded and added back to the papermaking process saving 10 tonnes per day of fiber. Two valuable groups of chemicals with potential pharmaceutical applications, resin acids, and terpenes, were successfully recovered from wastewater streams.