A comparative evaluation of explosion hazards in chemical and mechanical pulp bleaching systems

P.W. Hart; Alan W. Rudie

Treesearch

A comparative evaluation of explosion hazards in chemical and mechanical pulp bleaching systems

Informally Refereed

Authors:

P.W. Hart, Alan W. Rudie

Year:

2010

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

Source:

Pulp & paper Canada. Vol. 111, no. 4 (July/Aug. 2010): p. 19-22.

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Abstract

Three pulp mills in North America using 50% hydrogen peroxide have suffered explosions of pumps, mixers, and tanks. In two instances, alkali-catalyzed decomposition of peroxide is implicated in the explosion. Although many mechanical pulping facilities use hydrogen peroxide to bleach pulp, no &-catalyzed explosions have been reported. This research uses a kinetic model of peroxide decomposition to explain why the peroxide bleaching process used for mechanical pulps has lower than processes used to bleach chemical pulps.

Keywords

Decomposition, contamination, risk management, explosives, safety measures, wood-pulp industry, bleaching, pulping, hydrogen peroxide, oxidation, industrial safety, pulp mills, catalysis, chemical reactions, industrial chemistry, pulp, pulp and paper processes, chemical pulping, mechanical pulping

Citation

Hart, P.W.; Rudie, A.W. 2010. A comparative evaluation of explosion hazards in chemical and mechanical pulp bleaching systems. Pulp & paper Canada. Vol. 111, no. 4 (July/Aug. 2010): p. 19-22.