The process of making paper pulp uses a lot of water which carries away the particulates that are too small to stick in the paper. The solids that are recovered from this wastewater are called paper and pulp residuals, and may contain mud, ash, or small paper fibers. These residuals are usually considered a waste material, but they can be utilized as a helpful resource due to them being made up of organic matter.
So, what benefits can paper and pulp residuals give us? Due to the paper and pulp residuals being composed of organic matter, they can be used for soil amendment, topsoil production, bedding for animals, or a biofuel.
The residuals hold water and provide nutrients to the soil, as well as decomposing after just a few weeks. Paper production is prominent, resulting in massive amounts of paper and pulp residuals that can be distributed between topsoil manufacturers and farmers. The residuals can also be used as biofuel. The dried solids can be formed into starter logs or just bulk burned to fuel a process. To be transported and used, the residuals must first be dried.
Vulcan® Drying Systems has an easy, efficient, and cost-effective solution for drying paper and pulp residuals with the use of a direct fired rotary dryer system. These systems are designed for the specific needs of the customer and customers production requirements. Vulcan custom designs drying systems that range in capacity from 1 ton per hour up to 20 tons per hour. Our drying systems can include feed/discharge conveyors, rotary dryer with burner, combustion chamber, and pollution control.
A Vulcan® Paper & Pulp Drying System, uses 3 types of pollution control: cyclones, baghouses, venturi scrubbers, or a combination if needed. Our drying systems are easy to operate and come with a manual for your specific dryer. The manual includes safety measures, general components, handling and storage, initial set up instructions, and all other product related options needed to get your drying system up and running.
Below is a link to an article that goes into detail on how paper and pulp residuals can be used for soil amendment. This article was posted by Michigan State University.
Related Article: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/paper_mill_residuals_free_soil_amendment_available
