Pilot (scale-up) testing of the production process for a commercially-valuable phytochemical recovered from pulp and paper mill waste water

我们发明了一种从纸浆和造纸（P&P）厂废物流中回收具有商业价值的天然产品的新工艺。 造纸是一个多步骤的过程，使用大量的水，同时产生大量的有机废物。一种特殊的物流，即黑液冷凝物，在制浆过程的化学和能量回收步骤期间产生。由于存在有机化合物，该物流是工厂中最具环境毒性的物流之一，需要大量处理。 然而，这些化合物中的许多在回收时非常有价值。我们对天然产品市场的分析已经确定了一种特定化合物的直接和相当大的市场，这种化合物是香料和香料行业在专有工艺中使用的。该项目将与两个工业合作伙伴（一个纸浆厂和一个工业加工厂）一起实施试点试验，以实现三个目标。首先，测试中试规模生产设备，并为商业规模工艺创建早期生产规格。 第二，生产足够的样品供潜在客户考虑和反馈。第三，降低技术风险，制定可持续和盈利的商业计划。 该工艺的第一阶段在纸浆厂进行，涉及冷凝物的粗回收，用于运输到工业加工厂。 然后，加工商将为客户实施第二阶段的分离和纯化产品。对于P&P行业，我们的发明提供了一种“螺栓”解决方案，从废物流中产生增值产品，同时解决紧迫的环境和经济问题。这也为加拿大化学工业提供了创造收入并与P&P生产商分享收入的新途径。

We have invented a novel process for recovering commercially-valuable natural products from a pulp and paper (P&P) mill waste stream. Papermaking is a multi-step process utilizing large volumes of water, while generating considerable organic waste. One specific stream, black liquor condensate, is produced during the chemical and energy recovery step of the pulping process. Due to the organic compounds present, this stream is one of the most environmentally toxic in the mill, requiring considerable treatment. However, many of these compounds are very valuable when recovered. Our analysis of the natural product market has identified an immediate and considerable market for one specific compound, manool, which is used in proprietary processes by the flavour and fragrance industry. Together with two industrial partners (one pulp mill and one industrial processer) this current project will implement a pilot trial to achieve three objectives. Firstly, to test pilot scale production equipment and to create early production specifications for a commercial-scale process. Secondly, to produce sufficient samples of manool for prospective customer consideration and feedback. Thirdly, to de-risk the technology and develop a sustainable and profitable business plan. The first phase of the process, at the pulp mill, involves the crude recovery of the condensate, for shipping to the industrial processer. The processer will then implement the second phase of isolating and purifying the product for customers. For the P&P industry our invention provides a "bolt-on" solution, generating value-added products from waste streams, while addressing pressing environmental and economic issues. This also provides the Canadian chemical industry with new ways to generate revenue and to share them with P&P producers.