Paper-Making Case Study

ONIX systems can also help reduce and recycle waste in mass amounts. We worked with a leading paper manufacturer to help process paper-making sludge into beneficial byproducts.

In the paper-making process the additives (i.e.: kaolin clay, titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate) are introduced into the virgin paper fiber   to increase opacity, whiten the paper and increase the amount fiber.  The suspension of fiber and minerals is screened in a slurry, capturing only the longest fibers for use in actual paper.  The rejected fiber, along with percentages of the additives, is rejected, de-watered to about 65% moisture and typically landfilled in its wet form.  Having no traditional value,  this effluent (referred to as paper-making sludge) is produced in vast quantities, sometimes exceeding 1,000 tons per day at a single paper-making facility.  This material can be dried, broken apart and classified into fiber and mineral components and reused in post-consumer applications: boxboard and/or egg cartons from the fiber; plastic fillers from the mineral fractions.

In a single paper-making plant were able to redirect this sludge into our patented process and 100% of the previously landfilled paper-making sludge was utilized as boxboard, plastic fillers, and mineral fillers for concrete in other industries. We were able to keep 108,000 tons of wet paper-making sludge per year out of landfills at a single paper-making facility.