In today's society, where sustainability and circular economy are central, there is a growing interest in developing more sustainable methods for handling methanol and other by-products from pulp mills. Refining and utilizing these by-products efficiently are crucial to minimize emissions of fossil fuels.
Purpose
Methanol is a chemical compound that typically serves as a residual product from black liquor generated in pulp mills. Black liquor is an alkaline solution used to extract lignin from wood pulp during paper and pulp production. Historically, methanol generated as a by-product from black liquor has often been burned to produce energy or simply disposed of, resulting in the loss of a potentially valuable resource and contributing to carbon dioxide emissions and other environmental issues.
RISE has the expertise and resources to support this development within the pulp and paper industry. By employing advanced analytical methods, RISE can characterize methanol and untreated condensate, enabling a detailed assessment of their quality and potential applications. By understanding the chemical and physical properties of these by-products, companies can make informed decisions on how best to utilize and refine them for various purposes.
By collaborating with RISE to characterize and evaluate by-products such as methanol and untreated condensate, companies in the pulp and paper industry can identify opportunities for more efficient resource utilization and increased profitability while also contributing to reducing environmental impact. This is an important part of the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy, where waste and by-products are seen as resources rather than problems.
RISE can assist in characterizing methanol and untreated condensate to facilitate the process of refining the product into higher value. RISE also conducts analyses despite odor.
Method
RISE has access to advanced instrumentation and expertise in chemical analysis to characterize various parameters and components in methanol and its by-products from black liquor in pulp mills. Below is a detailed description of how RISE can analyze the different aspects mentioned:
1. Methanol content: RISE can use various analytical methods such as gas chromatography (GC) or liquid chromatography (HPLC) to accurately quantify the methanol content in the sample.
2. Water content: Using techniques like Karl Fischer titration or gravimetric methods, RISE can measure the water content in the sample with high accuracy.
3. Ammonium content and Total nitrogen content: To determine the ammonium content and total nitrogen content in the sample, RISE can use methods such as precipitation reactions, titration, or analysis using instruments like nitrogen gas analyzers.
4. TRS (Total Reduced Sulfur): To quantify TRS, including hydrogen sulfide, methyl mercaptan, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide, RISE can use various techniques such as gas chromatography coupled with sulfur-sensitive detection to identify and quantify the different components.
5. Total sulfur: RISE can use techniques such as inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) or gravimetric analysis to determine the total amount of sulfur in the sample.
6. Monoterpenes and Total monoterpenoid content: To identify and quantify various monoterpenes such as α-pinene, β-pinene, 3-carene, and limonene, RISE can use GC coupled with a mass spectrometer (GC-MS), where each compound can be separated and identified based on its unique mass spectrum.
7. Total sesquiterpene content and Total diterpenoid content: Similar to monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and diterpenoids can also be analyzed with GC-MS to quantify their total content in the sample.
8. GC-MS: Screening for other organic compounds: Using GC-MS, RISE can also perform a screening to identify and quantify other organic compounds that may be present in the sample, providing a comprehensive picture of its chemical composition.
By combining various advanced analytical techniques and instruments, RISE can provide a detailed and comprehensive characterization of methanol and its by-products from black liquor in pulp mills, which is crucial for assessing their quality and potential applications. This information can then be used by companies to make informed decisions on how best to utilize and refine these by-products for various purposes.