Energy Sources Part A-recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects, Vol.38, No.23, 3459-3463, 2016
Techno-economic analysis of waste paper energy utilization
The existing waste paper recycling technologies are based on partial incorporation of recycled cellulose fibers into new paper products. The main usage is in low-grade products, such as paperboards or wrapping papers. However, due to electronization of mass media in combination with increasing quantities of leaflets and continuous downward pressures on paper production costs, the waste paper currently used in the recycling scheme is of lower quality than paper used decades ago. It contains much more fillers, adhesives, dyes, polishers, and similar additives that are problematic for conventional paper recycling technologies. A sharp growth of this trend encourages conceptual reengineering of the existing technological processes in waste paper management. A techno-economic analysis of energy utilization by means combustion, anaerobic fermentation (also accelerated by steam-explosion), and pyrolysis was carried out in a pilot scale. The results have revealed that if the current trend continues, it might be reasonable to divert waste paper from returning back into production (recycling) and to prefer its commercial pyrolysis.
Keywords:Anaerobic fermentation;financial assessment;paper recycling management;pyrolysis;waste paper