Community research on paper processing reduces pollution and costs
6 July 2001 - 6 July 2001
The benefits from EU funded research into paper processing will be on show at a media event taking place in Brussels on 6 July.
Traditionally the paper industry has been a voracious user of water and energy and produced large quantities of polluted effluent. The industry still uses more than 8 million m3 of water per day and produces effluents containing chlorine and organic matter with a high oxygen demand.
Since 1985, over one hundred projects involving EU-funding in the region of 150 million euro have found innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of paper processing. In particular work has concentrated on water treatment technologies. This has allowed the industry to begin to change to closed-loop water systems, with a consequent substantial reduction in fresh water consumption.
Innovative research solutions, including improved process monitoring and control, chlorine-free bleaching, membrane separation and biotechnological treatments have all contributed to substantial reductions in environmental impact.
The results from another project partnership, Ecotissue, give a dry method of producing absorbent tissue papers. This offers great reductions in water and energy use.
The media event will showcase a number of these technologies and explain how they have reduced the use of fresh water, energy and chemicals, and prevented effluent. Participants can also visit the VDK paper mill just outside Brussels and see a pilot installation of a 'paper kidney'. This water treatment facility uses a combination of anaerobic thermophilic and aerobic biotechnological treatments, and membrane technology to give continuous recycling.For further information related to the projects presented, please contact:
Johannes Klumpers,
Scientific Officer / Research related to forest based industries
Tel: +32.2.29.60911
Fax: +32.2.29.58046
E-mail: johannes.klumpers@ec.europa.eu
For further information related to the event, please contact:
Julia Acevedo
Press and Information Officer, Research DG
Tel: +32.2.29.52043
Fax: +32.2.29.58220
E-mail: julia.acevedo-bueno@ec.europa.eu
Traditionally the paper industry has been a voracious user of water and energy and produced large quantities of polluted effluent. The industry still uses more than 8 million m3 of water per day and produces effluents containing chlorine and organic matter with a high oxygen demand.
Since 1985, over one hundred projects involving EU-funding in the region of 150 million euro have found innovative ways to reduce the environmental impact of paper processing. In particular work has concentrated on water treatment technologies. This has allowed the industry to begin to change to closed-loop water systems, with a consequent substantial reduction in fresh water consumption.
Innovative research solutions, including improved process monitoring and control, chlorine-free bleaching, membrane separation and biotechnological treatments have all contributed to substantial reductions in environmental impact.
The results from another project partnership, Ecotissue, give a dry method of producing absorbent tissue papers. This offers great reductions in water and energy use.
The media event will showcase a number of these technologies and explain how they have reduced the use of fresh water, energy and chemicals, and prevented effluent. Participants can also visit the VDK paper mill just outside Brussels and see a pilot installation of a 'paper kidney'. This water treatment facility uses a combination of anaerobic thermophilic and aerobic biotechnological treatments, and membrane technology to give continuous recycling.For further information related to the projects presented, please contact:
Johannes Klumpers,
Scientific Officer / Research related to forest based industries
Tel: +32.2.29.60911
Fax: +32.2.29.58046
E-mail: johannes.klumpers@ec.europa.eu
For further information related to the event, please contact:
Julia Acevedo
Press and Information Officer, Research DG
Tel: +32.2.29.52043
Fax: +32.2.29.58220
E-mail: julia.acevedo-bueno@ec.europa.eu