Converting waste gases from pulp mills into value-added chemicals

摘要

A combined sorption/catalytic process has been discovered that converts the methanol and mercaptans in Kraft pulp will waste gas condensates into formaldehyde. A pilot plant was operated at Georgia-Pacific's Brunswick, GA, mill for two years to optimize both sorbents and catalyst. Patents were issued. Applications within Georgia-Pacific and external licensing opportunities for the process are being investigated. The process gives pulp and paper mills a profitable alternative for converting their waste gases to valuable chemicals, as opposed to incineration or biodegradation in treatment ponds.