Laboratory- and mill-scale study of surfactant spray flotation deinking

As the cost of quality waste paper continues to escalate in response to an increased global demand for this finite resource, loss of saleable fiber within flotation rejects becomes both environmentally and economically unacceptable. The ability of surfactant spray technology to reduce fiber loss without detriment to pulp brightness gains has been demonstrated during both laboratory- and pilot-scale flotation deinking investigations. This paper documents the successful transfer of this technology to a single flotation unit within the deinking line of a mill producing newsprint from 100% secondary fiber. Initial results suggest that the loss of fiber across the unit was reduced by more than 50% without obvious detriment to final pulp quality. Application: Paper mills could significantly reduce fiber loss and save costs using surfactant spray technology in flotation deinking.