Mercer Rosenthal GmbH Adds Stripper to Evaporation Plant to Optimise Resource Use
A stripper has been added to the existing evaporation plant in order to separate the usable material of the B-condensate from the liquid. The installation separates the ephemeral, gaseous material from the liquid. A plate falling film evaporator is used as a head condenser to integrate the condensation heat into the evaporation process. This allows the highest possible energy efficiency to be achieved, without the need for additional live steam.
The additional purification in the plant means that the high-quality B-condensate can be used more often, thereby reducing the volume of freshwater required. At the same time, the organic material pollution of the water is reduced by 85% in a partial flow. The water leaving the plant is thus less polluted. The organic load is put to thermal use.
The project—first conceptually developed in the summer of 2019—was successfully completed in September 2021.
Goals
By adopting its sustainability strategy, Mercer has committed itself not only to improving its environmental performance and reducing its CO₂ emissions, but also to further increasing its resource efficiency. The aim is to reduce its water needs by 10% by 2030. In 2019, Mercer accordingly decided to make greater use of the B-condensate in its Rosenthal pulp mill. Specifically, this involved reducing the use of freshwater, increasing the proportion of recycled water in the plant and further lowering the existing pollution levels of freshwater bodies.
‘We must continue to close cycles in order to secure cellulose production. Investing in water conservation and energy efficiency are crucial here. This requires stable markets and political frameworks that allow us to plan ahead.’
- Reusing condensate = lowering the water volumes needed
- Redirecting pollutants from wastewater treatment into an internal burning process = reducing energy needs
- Lowering the pollutant load expelled into freshwater bodies = improving water quality
Invested sum
€6.8 million
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