Chelating agents - Biodegradable alternatives to EDTA and DTPA

EDTA and DTPA are widely used in the pulp and paper industry for chelating metal ions, especially in the bleaching of chemical or recycled fibres with peroxide where many metal ions increase the decomposition of peroxide.

Initially in Germany and later in a number of other countries, the poor biodegradability (persistence) of EDTA and DTPA in the environment raised questions about the efficacy of using these chemicals.  Not surprisingly, there has been considerable research into finding alternatives, especially by the peroxide producers and suppliers.

Recently Kemira R&D has developed some alternative chemistries which are starting to show promise.  As is often the case with greener alternatives, there is a price to pay as the cost/perfomance of the new products is inferior.  Nevertheless, there is now a good environmentally-friendly option.  The products marketed by Kemira under the Fennobio trademark are based on aspartic acid diethoxysuccinate (AES).

There is a more detailed article by Kemira on this topic.

Kemira announce R&D investment in Brazil

In building on the plans reported in a recent blog, Kemira has announced that it will open a technological centre in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The new R&D centre is expected to start up in 2009. 

Kemira reported a turnover of EUR 100 mio in the region in 2007 - a 67% increase on the previous year - so the region is important for their business and justifies having one of the 5 strategically-placed technical centres.  As part of the justification for the location, Kemira stated that it expects the chemicals for pulp bleaching in Latin America to increase by 5.7% per annum from a USD 275 mio in 2007 to USD 385 mio in 2012 m - this of course depends on whose market data you use and when it was compiled.  Pulp is not the only growth area as South America also realises the potential in moving up the value chain and producing more paper and board.

This announcement is part of Kemira's plan to establish 5 significant global technical centres and consolidate its activities in the key regions, rather than have the 17 dispersed R&D sites they have today.

Antitrust - EU Imposes Heavy Fines on Chlorate Cartel

The European Commission announced that it has imposed fines totalling over EUR 79 mio on four groups of companies for operating a cartel - fixing prices and allocating sales volumes of sodium chlorate. This chemical is mainly used in chemical pulp production where is used to produce the bleaching chemical, chlorine dioxide.

Some of the highlights are:

• The companies involved: EKA Chemicals, Akzo Nobel, Finnish Chemicals (now Kemira), Erikem Luxembourg, Arkema France, Elf Aquitaine, Aragonesas Industrias y Energia and Utralia.
• Period the cartel operated: 1994 - 2000
• Akzo Nobel and EKA Chemicals (subsidiary of Akzo Nobel) received full immunity from the fines as they were first to provide information about the cartel
• Finnish Chemicals (now Kemira) had its fine reduced by 50% for co-operating with the investigation
• The fine imposed on Arkema France was increased by 90% as it was a repeat offender - participated in 'three cartels before this one'

Full details of the fines and the rulings are available from the European Commission web site.

Keywords: Paper Chemicals, bleaching, chlorine dioxide, sodium chlorate, Canda International

Hydrogen peroxide market predicted to reach 4.3 million tonnes by 2012

A press release by RISI reports on a recent market review, "Hydrogen Peroxide: A Global Strategic Business Report" published by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

The highlights are:

• Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) demand is partly driven by elemental chlorine free (ECF) processes; the introduction of maximum achievable control technology (MACT) by the EPA in United States; and total chlorine free (TCF) processes mandate by the European Union [comment: there is still not much TCF pulp produced and some analysts do not see much future growth - at least in the next 10 years]
  
• The US hydrogen peroxide market in 2008 is estimated to be 705 thousand metric tons for 2008
• The Asia-Pacific is the fastest growing market, with a CAGR of 8% over the period 2001-2010.
  
• The pulp & paper industry is the largest market segment for hydrogen peroxide and this segment is expected to be around 2.11 million metric tons by 2010.
• European producers dominate the market in both Europe and North America.
  
• North American producers such as Dow Chemical and FMC also have a significant presence in the market.
  
• The market is fragmented in the Asia-Pacific region where there is a large number of small players.
• Players dominating the global hydrogen peroxide market include Arkema, BASF AG, Chang Chun Petrochemical Co, DC Chemicals, Dow Chemical, Eka Chemicals, Evonik Degussa, FMC Corporation, Guangdong Zhongcheng Chemicals, Hansol Chemicals, Kemira, Kingboard Chemical Holdings, Mitsubishi Gas Chemicals, Nippon Peroxide, PT Degussa Peroxide Indonesia and Solvay.

Kemira sells 50% stake in Japanese peroxide JV

Kemira has announced that it will sell its 50% share of the Japanese peroxide JV Kemira-Ube Ltd to the remaining partner. The sales of the JV were in the region of EUR 20 million, but the value of the deal between Kemira and Ube was not disclosed. Ube will form a new hydrogen peroxide JV with Mitsubishi Corporation.

Solvay and Rahu Catalytics agree on co-operation

Belgian based Solvay SA, has agreed a long term technical collaboration with RahuCat in the development of activated oxidation and bleaching processes.

The deal provides a platform for using RahuCat's Dragon activators and catalysts to improve hydrogen peroxide performance. Development is aimed at, 'Peroxide market growth through improved operating economics, expansion into new applications and meeting future environmental regulation. The technical programme will use R&D facilities at both companies, initially based in Europe, but could expand into fast growing markets as application opportunities arise.'

Eka Chemicals success with on-site chlorine dioxide at Stora Enso

Akzo Nobel's, Eka Chemicals, has reached agreement with Stora Enso will to introduce its pioneering chlorine dioxide concept at the Skutskär mill, Sweden. This is part of Eka's global initiative to produce and supply bleaching chemicals inside a customer’s premises while remotely monitoring the whole process from a main operations center at Sundsvall. The chlorine dioxide concept offers cost, efficiency and service/supply-chain benefits.

Eka Chemicals now remotely monitors more than 15 such chlorine dioxide plants around the world at customer sites located in Sweden, Brazil, France, Finland and US. The business is also building a "Chemical Island" for the total chemicals supply to a new pulp mill being built by Votorantim Celulose e Papel in Brazil.

Reduce cost of whiteness - Nalco invention

Nalco has developed a new approach to reducing the cost of whiteness - using ExtraWhite, a 1-2 point ISO Brightness gain or an incredulous 50% reduction in OBA consumption could be achieved (Nalco announcement). The benefits are claimed for coated and uncoated woodfree (freesheet) grades, wood-containing (mechanical) paper grades and in certain pulp applications.

The patent is pending and could not yet be found in the US or European patent databases. From information gleaned from various sources, it would appear to be a mixture of a bleaching chemical and an additive to stabilise the OBA. The product cost is therefore likley to be low and the price set at an attractive level for papermakers.

With the seemingly endless drive to increase and harmonise global paper whiteness levels at a higher whiteness (eg, in the USA where whiteness is typically lower than Europe) this technology will certainly raise interest. Achieving whiteness gains with OBA or by bleaching/brightening is expensive and a target for cost reduction in the paper industry. This is particularly the case at the high-whiteness end of the market where large amounts of OBA are used.

If anyone has any more detail they would like to add, please comment.