Pollution Prevention Case Study

Georgia-Pacific Corporation

Hardwood Sulfite Pulp Bleaching with
Oxygen and Hydrogen Peroxide
Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Paper and Allied Products/2611 and 2621
Process Manufacture of bleached hardwood sulfate pulp
Type of Waste Chloroform, chlorine and miscellaneous trace chlorophenolics produced as byproducts of pulp bleaching
Strategy Process change: development of an oxygen/hydrogen peroxide bleaching sequence
Company Background Georgia-Pacific (G-P) Corp.'s Port Edwards mill is an integrated pulp and paper manufacturing operation. Through a capital investment program and process changes, the mill has virtually eliminated emissions of chloroform and chlorine.

G-P is a world-class producer of pulp, paper and forest products headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Georgia-Pacific had pulp and paper sales of $5.2 billion in 1993 from its 85 facilities in the United States and Canada. It employs approximately 50,000 people, 900 of whom work in Port Edwards, Wisconsin.
Process Port Edwards is a 230-ton-per-day bleached hardwood sulfite pulp mill using the magnesium sulfite pulping process with cooking chemical recovery. The effluent from the bleaching process is sent to a primary treatment plant and then to a secondary oxygen-activated sludge wastewater treatment plant for removal of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and suspended materials.

Successful mill trials were run to approximate an oxygen/peroxide bleach plant. Data obtained during the trials showed that G-P could expect total removal of chloroform and chlorine air releases from the wood pulp bleaching operation as well as elimination of the chlorinated phenolics in the washer filtrates going to the treatment plant.

Releases to the air from the former bleaching process were of very low concentration but went on continuously to add up to 25 tons of chloroform per year and four tons of chlorine per year. These materials are reportable under SARA Title III, section 313, and are regulated under the state of Wisconsin Air Toxics Rule (NR445).
Motivation Based on G-P's strategy for complying with the EPA "33/50" plan for voluntary reductions in the releases of toxic chemicals, a multi-million-dollar capital project was approved to install the new bleaching technology at the Port Edwards sulfite mill. Fortunately for the Port Edwards mill, hardwood sulfate bleaching is much easier than kraft or softwood bleaching and allowed this significant reduction in toxic releases while maintaining pulp quality.
Changes Implemented During the spring and summer of 1993, the project was implemented.

The new system was started on Oct. 1, 1993. The pulp bleaching operation is no longer listed as a generator of chloroform or chlorine under SARA Title III. A rigorous testing of all mill vents and process flows is under way this year as part of an environmental study; we expect this independent testing to confirm the new status of our pulp bleaching process under SARA Title III.
Problems Encountered Startup problems were minimal. The papermakers did have to change some of their paper additives and procedures to optimize use of the new pulp.
Material/Energy Balance Original Process

Feedstock
Unbleached sulfite hardwood pulp

Waste
Chloroform to air - 25 tons (1992), chlorine to air - four tons (1992)

Disposal
To air and wastewater treatment plant

Pollution Prevention Process

Feedstock
Unbleached sulfite hardwood pulp

Waste
Water, oxidized pulp residues

Disposal
To air and wastewater treatment plant
Economics Capital Costs
Multi-million-dollar project (1993)

Operation/Maintenance Costs
Essentially unchanged

Payback Period
Indefinite
Company Address Georgia-Pacific Corp.
100 Wisconsin River Drive
Port Edwards, Wisconsin 54469
Contact Person David K. Reinke, Technical Superintendent
Phone: 715/887-5253
Pollution Prevention Resources National Council of the Paper Industry for
Air and Stream Improvement (NCASI)
260 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Free, On-site Technical Assistance
University of Wisconsin Extension
Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center
Milwaukee area: 414/475-2845
Remainder of state: 608/262-0385

Pollution Prevention Information Clearinghouse
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Hazardous Waste Minimization Program
608/264-8852, 608/267-9523 or 608/267-3763
DNR Logo


Bureau of Cooperative Environmental Assistance
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI   53707
608/267-9700

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