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Scale-up and Optimization of Membrane Processes for Kraft Black Liquor Fractionation

Lipnizki, F LU orcid ; Wallberg, O LU orcid and Battestini Vives, M LU orcid (2024) Nordic Filtration Symposium 2024
Abstract
Improving lignocellulosic biorefineries is a crucial step in transitioning from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based one. These biorefineries convert lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks into value-added products such as biofuels, biopower, biochemicals, and biomaterials, while also recovering valuable components from underutilized process streams. Pulp and paper mills are lignocellulosic biorefineries that have several process streams from which valuable components could be recovered. One of these streams is kraft black liquor (KBL) is a side stream of the kraft pulping process, the most widely used pulping method worldwide. KBL is usually evaporated and burned to obtain energy. However, implementing membrane processes within the pulp... (More)
Improving lignocellulosic biorefineries is a crucial step in transitioning from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based one. These biorefineries convert lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks into value-added products such as biofuels, biopower, biochemicals, and biomaterials, while also recovering valuable components from underutilized process streams. Pulp and paper mills are lignocellulosic biorefineries that have several process streams from which valuable components could be recovered. One of these streams is kraft black liquor (KBL) is a side stream of the kraft pulping process, the most widely used pulping method worldwide. KBL is usually evaporated and burned to obtain energy. However, implementing membrane processes within the pulp mill could recover lignin and decrease the energy consumption of the evaporators.
This presentation examines the scale-up and optimization of membrane processes for kraft black liquor (KBL) fractionation, starting from the first industrial application at Metsäliiton, Finland, in 1975. This initial work utilized polymeric ultrafiltration membranes for the concentration and fractionation of KBL. Recent developments have focused on ceramic ultrafiltration membranes to fractionate lignin in KBL, combined with polymeric and ceramic nanofiltration membranes to concentrate low-molecular-weight lignin. Furthermore, the different concepts for lignin recovery within a pulp and paper mill will be considered in a techno-economical evaluation. Finally, the presentation investigates the application of response surface methodology to optimize membrane cleaning in the nanofiltration of KBL, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce the impact of fouling in these advanced membrane systems.
Overall, the presentation will provide a comprehensive overview on the development and status of this application.
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author
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organization
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type
Contribution to conference
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Membrane processes, Pulp and paper industry
conference name
Nordic Filtration Symposium 2024
conference location
Copenhagen, Denmark
conference dates
2024-12-02 - 2024-12-04
project
Process intensification of sulfate pulp production with lignin recovery by pressure-assisted forward osmosis (PAFO)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
f3e4110b-3d9f-480a-a294-1fe28c71bb37
alternative location
https://discongress.eventsair.com/nofs-2024/abstracts
date added to LUP
2025-12-30 10:56:11
date last changed
2026-01-15 12:34:22
@misc{f3e4110b-3d9f-480a-a294-1fe28c71bb37,
  abstract     = {{Improving lignocellulosic biorefineries is a crucial step in transitioning from a fossil-based economy to a bio-based one. These biorefineries convert lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks into value-added products such as biofuels, biopower, biochemicals, and biomaterials, while also recovering valuable components from underutilized process streams. Pulp and paper mills are lignocellulosic biorefineries that have several process streams from which valuable components could be recovered.  One of these streams is kraft black liquor (KBL) is a side stream of the kraft pulping process, the most widely used pulping method worldwide. KBL is usually evaporated and burned to obtain energy. However, implementing membrane processes within the pulp mill could recover lignin and decrease the energy consumption of the evaporators. <br/>This presentation examines the scale-up and optimization of membrane processes for kraft black liquor (KBL) fractionation, starting from the first industrial application at Metsäliiton, Finland, in 1975. This initial work utilized polymeric ultrafiltration membranes for the concentration and fractionation of KBL. Recent developments have focused on ceramic ultrafiltration membranes to fractionate lignin in KBL, combined with polymeric and ceramic nanofiltration membranes to concentrate low-molecular-weight lignin. Furthermore, the different concepts for lignin recovery within a pulp and paper mill will be considered in a techno-economical evaluation. Finally, the presentation investigates the application of response surface methodology to optimize membrane cleaning in the nanofiltration of KBL, aiming to improve efficiency and reduce the impact of fouling in these advanced membrane systems. <br/>Overall, the presentation will provide a comprehensive overview on the development and status of this application. <br/>}},
  author       = {{Lipnizki, F and Wallberg, O and Battestini Vives, M}},
  keywords     = {{Membrane processes; Pulp and paper industry}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  title        = {{Scale-up and Optimization of Membrane Processes for Kraft Black Liquor Fractionation}},
  url          = {{https://discongress.eventsair.com/nofs-2024/abstracts}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}