All Issue

2019 Vol.51, Issue 5
Global Trends and Prospects of Black Liquor as Bioenergy
Chul-Hwan Kim1
,
Ji-Young Lee1†
,
See-Han Park2
,
Sun-Ok Moon1
1Major of Environmental Material Science, IALS, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828
2Major of Pulp and Paper Chemical Engineering, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828
†Corresponding author: E-Mail: paperyjy@gnu.ac.kr
30 October 2019. pp. 3-15
PDF XML Citation
Abstract

Black liquor from kraft pulp mills is a valuable bioresource that can be used to generate renewable energy and to recover cooking chemicals. Consequently, black liquor must not be regarded as a nonrecyclable waste. Kraft pulp mills are known to generate 1.4 to 1.5 tons of black liquor (measured as dry content) per ton of pulp, representing a potential energy source ranging between 250 MW and 500 MW. The effective heating value of black liquor is relatively low at 12 MJ/kg to 13 MJ/kg, compared to fossil fuels. The combustion of black liquor is well controlled according to strict regulations, in order to meet RPS and to obtain renewable energy credit (REC) that equal the percentage requirement for electricity sold. To date, however, Korea has seen no REC benefits in relation to black liquor bioenergy generation, though, in most other countries that produce kraft pulp, surplus renewable energy transactions benefit from black liquor combustion. Only one company produces kraft pulp in Korea, contributing to the consistent growth of the domestic paper industry. As such, it is strongly suggested that the relevant ministries in Korea consider black liquor a valuable resource for generating renewable energy.

Keywords
Black liquor
bioenergy
recovery boiler
renewable energy
REC
RPS
References

Literature Cited

1

FAO, Pulp, paper and paperboard capacity survey 2016-2021 (2017).

2

Environmental Paper Network, The state of the global paper industry 2018 (2018).

3

CEPI, 2017 Key Statistics (2018).

4

Smook, G. A., Handbook for Pulp and Paper Technologists (3rd edition), Angus Wilde Publications, Inc. Vancouver, Canada (2003).

5

Asia Biomass Office, Biomass energy trend in Japan (2011).

6

Tran, H. and Vakkilainnen, E. K., The kraft chemical recovery process, Tappi Kraft Pulping Short Course, St. Petersburg, FL, USA, pp. 1-8 (2008).

7

Foelkel, C., To where and how the Brazilian kraft pulp industry will be running? Heat & power generation versus gasification & extracted biofuel/biomaterials?, The 8th International Black Liquor Colloquium, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil (2013).

8

Gaudreault, C., Malmberg, B., Upton, B., and Miner, R., Greenhouse gas and non-renewable energy benefits of black liquor recovery, National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Technical Bulletin No. 984 (2011).

10.1016/j.biombioe.2012.06.027
9

CEPI, Energy efficiency and CO2 reduction in the pulp and paper industry (2013).

10

CEPI, Bio-energy and the European pulp and paper industry - An impact assessment, Summary of a Study Conducted by Mckinsey & Company and Pöyry Forest Industry Consulting (2012).

11

Andersson, E., Harvey, S., and Berntsson, T., Energy efficient upgrading of biofuel integrated with a pulp mill, Energy 10(11):1384-1394 (2006).

10.1016/j.energy.2005.05.020
12

Korean Energy Economics Institute, World Energy Market Insight 16(32):41-45 (2016).

13

Tribota, A., Amerb, G., Alioa, M. A., Baynasta, H., Delattrea, C., Ponsa, A., Mathiasb, J.-D., Calloisc, J.-M., Viala, C., Michauda, P., and Dussap, C.-G., Wood-lignin: Supply, extraction processes and use as bio-based material, European Polymer Jr. 112:228-240 (2019).

10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2019.01.007
14

Fengel, D. and Wegener, G., Wood—Chemistry, Ultrastructure, Reactions, Walter de Gruyter, Berlin, Germany, pp. 56-58 (1984).

10.1515/9783110839654
15

Borjesson, H. B., Ahlgren, E. O., and Simbolotti, G., Pulp and paper industry, IEA ETSAP Technology Brief I07 (2015).

16

IEA Bioenergy, Black liquor gasification, Summary and Conclusions from the IEA Bioenergy ExCo54 Workshop (2007).

17

Reeve, D. W., The kraft recovery cycle, Tappi Kraft Recovery Operations Short Course, Tappi Press, GA, USA (2002).

18

Cardoso, M., Oliveira, E. D., and Passos, M. L., Chemical composition and physical properties of black liquors and their effects on liquor recovery operation in Brazilian pulp mills, Fuel 88:756-763 (2009).

10.1016/j.fuel.2008.10.016
19

Bajpai, P., Properties, composition, and analysis of black liquor, In Pulp and Paper Industry - Chemical Recovery, Ch. 2, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands pp. 25-38 (2017).

10.1016/B978-0-12-811103-1.00002-4
20

Niemelä, K., Tamminen, T., and Ohra-aho, T., Characterization of black liquor constituents, FP0907 Workshop, Wien, Austria (2010).

21

Clay, D. T., Evaporation principles and black liquor properties, Tappi Workshop (2014).

22

Fakhrai, R., Black liquor combustion in kraft recovery boilers – Numerical modelling, Ph.D. Thesis, Kungl Tekniska Hogskolan, Sweden (2002).

23

Järvinen, M., Black liquor and recovery boiler, Dept. of Energy Technology, Aalto University, Finland (2017).

24

Wartena, R., Winnick, J., and Pfromm, P. H., Recycling kraft pulping chemicals with molten salt electrolysis, Jr. of the Electrochemical Society 149(4):D125-D131 (2002).

10.1149/1.1495907
25

Tran, H., Kraft recovery process, Tappi kraft recovery short course, St. Petersburg, FL, USA (2008).

26

Vakkilainen, E. K., Kraft Recovery Boilers – High Solids Firing, Suomen Soodakattilayhdistys r. y., Helsinki, Finland (2005).

27

Wessel, R. A., Recovery boiler air distribution, Tappi Kraft Recovery Course, St. Petersburg, FL, USA, pp. 1-8 (2008).

28

Maccallum, C. and Blackwell, B. R., Critical review of kraft recovery boiler air systems, Pulp&Paper Canada 88(10):T337-T381 (1987).

29

Vakkilainen, E. K. Recovery boiler adjustable air system, Black Liquor Recovery Boiler Annual Conference, Atlanta, USA, pp. 1-14 (1996).

30

Grace, T. M., Recovery boiler equipment and operation, Tappi Kraft Recovery Course, St. Petersburg, FL, USA (2008).

31

Lepage, H., Wong, W., Tran, H., and Bussmann, M., Passive acoustic monitoring of recovery boiler dissolving tank operation, CSME International Congress, Toronto, Canada, pp. 1-3 (2014).

32

Maček, A., Research on combustion of black-liquor drops, Progress in Energy and Combustion Science 25(3):275-304 (1999).

10.1016/S0360-1285(98)00027-6
33

Hupa, M., Combustion behavior of black liquor droplets, Jr. of Pulp and Paper Science 13(2):67-72 (1987).

34

Vakkilainen, E. and Välimäki, E., Effect of lignin separation to black liquor and recovery boiler operation, TAPPI Eng., Pulping Environ. Conf., Atlanta, USA (2009).

35

Bajpai, P., Black Liquor Gasification, Elsevier, Amsterdam, Netherlands pp. 5-7 (2014).

10.1016/B978-0-08-100009-0.00002-5
36

Naqvi, M., Yan, J., and Dahlquist, E., Black liquor gasification integrated in pulp and paper mills: A critical review, Bioresource Technol. 101:8001-8015 (210).

10.1016/j.biortech.2010.05.013
37

Garg, A., Kazunari, K., and Pulles, T., In 2006 IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories, pp. 1-5 (2006).

38

Allwood, J. M., Bosetti, V., Dubash, N. K., Gomez-Echeverri, L., and von Stechow, C., Glossary, acronyms and chemical symbols, In Climate Change (2014).

39

IEA, Glossary, https://www.iea.org/about/glossary/b/.

40

REN21, Renewables 2010, global status report (2010).

41

FAO, Annexes, http://www.fao.org/3/y3779e/y3779e12.htm.

42

CTCN, https://www.ctc-n.org/technologies/black-liquor.

43

Asia Biomass Energy Cooperation Promotion Office, Biomass energy trend in Japan, https://www.asiabiomass.jp/english/topics/1105_01.html.

44

Ericsson, K., Huttunen, S., Nilsson, L. J., and Svenningsson, P., Bioenergy policy and market development in Finland and Sweden, Energy Policy 3:1707-1721 (2004).

10.1016/S0301-4215(03)00161-7
45

UNdata, Energy statistics database, http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=EDATA&f=cmID%3APU.

46

Korea Forest Services, Quality standards of black liquor (2018).

47

Korea Ministry of Environment, Act on the promotion of the development, use and diffusion of new and renewable energy.

48

Naqvi, M., Yan, J., and Fröling, M., Bio-refinery system of DME or CH4 production from black liquor gasification in pulp mills, Bioresources Technology 101(3):937-944 (2010).

10.1016/j.biortech.2009.08.086
49

Naqvi, M., Yan, J., and Fröling, M., Bio-refinery system in a pulp mill for methanol production with comparison of pressurized black liquor gasification and dry gasification using direct causticization, Applied Energy 90(1): 24-31 (2012).

10.1016/j.apenergy.2010.12.074
50

Wallmo, H., Theliander, H., Jönsson, A.-S., and Wallberg, O., The influence of hemicelluloses during the precipitation of lignin in kraft black liquor, Nordic Pulp & Paper Res. J. 24(2):165-171 (2009).

10.3183/npprj-2009-24-02-p165-171
51

Wallberg, O., Linde, M., and Jönsson, A.-S., Extraction of lignin and hemicelluloses from kraft black liquor, Desalination 199(1):413-414 (2006).

10.1016/j.desal.2006.03.094
52

Kouisni, L., Fang, Y., Paleologou, M., Ahvazi, B., Hawari, J., Zhang, Y., and Wang, X.-M., Kraft lignin recovery and its use in the preparation of lignin-based phenol formaldehyde resins for plywood. Cellul. Chem. Technol. 45:515-20 (2011).

53

Zhu, W., Precipitation of kraft lignin yield and equilibrium, Ph.D Thesis, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden (2015).

54

Vakkilainen, E. and Välimäki, E., Effect of lignin separation to black liquor and recovery boiler operation, TAPPI’s 2009 Engineering, Pulping, and Environmental Conference, Memphis, TN, USA (2009).

55

Pinto, P. C. R. and Silva, E. E. B., Lignin as source of fine chemicals: Vanillin and Syringaldehyde, Biomass Conversion, Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, pp. 381-420 (2012).

10.1007/978-3-642-28418-2_12
56

Lindberg, J. J., Kuuseal, T. A., and Levon, K., Specialty polymers from lignin, In Lignin - Properties and Materials, Glasser, W. G. and Sarkanen, S. (eds.), Ch. 14, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, pp. 190-204 (1989).

10.1021/bk-1989-0397.ch014
57

Lora, J. H. and Glasser, W. G., Recent industrial applications of lignin: A sustainable alternative to nonrenewable materials, J. Polym. Environ. 10:39-48 (2002).

10.1023/A:1021070006895
58

Faruk, O. and Sain, M., Lignin in Polymer Composites, William Andrew, NY, USA (2016).

59

Pouteau, C., Dole, P., Cathala, B., Averous, L., and Boquillon, N., Antioxidant properties of lignin in polypropylene, Polymer Degradation and Stability, 81(1):9-18 (2003).

10.1016/S0141-3910(03)00057-0
Information
  • Publisher :Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
  • Publisher(Ko) :한국펄프종이공학회
  • Journal Title :Journal of Korea TAPPI
  • Journal Title(Ko) :펄프종이기술
  • Volume : 51
  • No :5
  • Pages :3-15
  • Received Date : 2019-07-11
  • Revised Date : 2019-08-20
  • Accepted Date : 2019-09-02
  • DOI :https://doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2019.10.51.5.3
Journal Informaiton Journal of Korea TAPPI Journal of Korea TAPPI
Online Submission
  • scopus
  • NRF
  • KOFST
  • crossref crossmark
  • crossref cited-by
  • crosscheck
  • orcid
Journal Informaiton Journal Informaiton - close