Volume 6, Number 4
Oct 1993

Alkaline Updates at PIMA '93

This excerpt is reprinted with permission from PIMA Magazine, Sept. 1993, p. 36-37 and 39, where it appeared as part of a report of the 74th Annual PIMA International Management Conference. "PIMA" stands for "Paper Industry Management Association." Complete conference proceedings are available for $30 from PIMA Headquarters. Contact Rhonda Daniel at 708/956-0250.

During the third management session, Hercules Incorporated's Peter Bither addressed secondary fiber from an "alkaline" point of view. He notes that in spite of potential problems, alkaline is often the best system for mills using secondary fiber.

"Because using recycle fiber is perceived as environmentally responsive, recycle fiber is required in some grades and is essential for economic survival in others," Bither says. "Recycle furnishes are weaker than virgin pulp furnishes and running alkaline is a way to recover lost strength. The recycle stream contains ever increasing amounts of calcium carbonate that are difficult to deal with in acid systems. Last, but not least, filler is still cheaper than fiber, even at today's depressed pulp prices."

During his presentation, Bither presented in-depth looks at alkaline systems in North America, Korea and Brazil. After examining their problems--and solutions--he concludes that "it's a global economy, and alkaline papermaking is not that different around the world. The survivors are the ones who show patience, perseverance and a willingness to solve the problems that always seem to come disguised as opportunities."

Harold Goldsberry, Manager, alkaline technology for Cytec Industries in Atlanta, also discussed alkaline papermaking, comparing ASA to AKD sizing. He says that ASA technology is "performance-driven."

"In the U.S. 15 years ago, alkaline papermaking, with the exception of a few producers, was in its infancy," Goldsberry says. "The same could be held true for the ASA technology. It did have some barriers to industry acceptance. There were some issues to be addressed: primarily the machine cleanliness, machine operating efficiency issues and the equipment that was used then for the ASA size emulsion preparation."

According to Goldsberry, the industry has worked out most of these early challenges. "As a baseline, some of these include the factors governing and contributing to efficient machine operation and clean running systems. They had to be identified and they were," he states. "A lot of suppliers shared in the development of newer, higher performing retention aid systems--not just the microparticle-type systems that we've heard of today, but also the conventional polyacrylamide systems."

Goldsberry predicts that by 1995, 90 percent of the uncoated freesheet market will be alkaline. "Two viable size options are available to the papermaker. Each mill must make a decision and base that decision on the grade structure they are making as well as the papermaking equipment and production limitations for their operation."