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Converting waste gases from pulp mills into value-added chemicals
Citation:
SAHLE-DEMESSIE, E. AND C. B. Almquist. Converting waste gases from pulp mills into value-added chemicals. Presented at The 238th ACS National Meeting, Washington, DC, August 16 - 20, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the EPA
Description:
Engineering, Miami University, 64 J Engineering Building, Oxford, OH, 45056 The pulp and paper industry generates large amounts of HAPs, VOCs and total reduced sulfur compounds (TRSs) of the various sources. As the industry is moving to a sustainable future, the U.S. EPA and Miami University have developed a catalytic technology that uses molybdenum modified copper catalyst that uses ozone as an oxidant, converted the methanol and TRS in the waste streams to methyl formate and SO2 at mild temperatures of about 200°C. The catalyst was not poisoned by the sulfur compounds and remained active even at high concentrations of water (~50%). Catalytic oxidation occurs at lower temperatures with minimal formation of nitrogen oxides (NOx) and lower energy requirements. Methanol was converted into methyl formate, and total removal of TRSs and 98% removal of HAPs was acheived. The new technology was tested using a pilot-scale unit at a commercial pulp and paper mill, Domtar Corporation pulp mill in Hawseville, Kentucky