Ahlstrom-Munksjö - Via-Separations
Host Site Partner: Ahlstrom-Munksjö
Host Site Location: Mosinee, Wisconsin
Technology Provider: Via Separations
Technology: Pilot-scale Black Liquor Membrane for Water Removal
Description: Via Separations’ technology uses graphene oxide membranes to remove water and concentrate valuable solids from black liquor, a byproduct of the Kraft process to produce wood pulp. The technology provider claims reduced energy requirements for black liquor concentration compared to traditional methods which use steam to evaporate water from black liquor.
Project Objectives: Validation of performance and benefits:
● Energy requirements (steam and electricity) for black liquor concentration
Via Separations' innovation is a black liquor concentration system that use graphene oxide membranes to efficiently remove water and concentrate valuable liquor solids.
Via Separations' innovation is a black liquor concentration system that uses graphene oxide membranes to efficiently remove water and concentrate valuable liquor solids. The team at the Ahlstrom-Munksjö Mosinee, Wisconsin, facility is installing a black liquor concentration skid to validate the performance and benefits in a live manufacturing environment.
Key Results | |||
Fossil Fuel Consumption1 | Scope 1 Carbon Emissions2 | Scope 2 Carbon Emissions3 | Electricity Consumption |
5,545 Btu/hour due to reduced steam usage in the evaporator | 4.47 tons CO2 equivalent/year | 4.60 tons CO2 equivalent/year | 1.28 kilowatts due to increased electricity to run membrane feed pumps |
1For a typical U.S. pulp and paper industry with boiler fuel mix of 44% wood, 28% coal, 27% natural gas, and 1% residual oil, based on a median steam economy of 2.2 kilograms (kg) of water removed per 1 kg of steam.
2Reduction in scope 1 CO2 e based on a median steam economy of 2.2 kg of water removed per 1 kg of steam used.
3Assuming the U.S. national average available through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Emissions and Generation Resource Integrated Database (eGRID) for data year 2020 is 822.6 lbs. CO2 e/MWh.
Read the Field Validation Report
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