Press ReleasesNippon Paper Industries Initiates Advanced Use of Acid Hydrolysis Liquids Generated in Manufacture of Dissolving Pulp- Review of alternative to heavy oil based on biogas manufacturing at Kushiro Mill -

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd.

Nippon Paper Industries Co., Ltd. (President: Yoshio Haga) installed a biogas manufacturing and testing plant (methane fermentation adopted) this March at Kushiro Mill (Kushiro, Hokkaido) as part of a review of the advanced utilization of acid hydrolysis liquids. Acid hydrolysis liquids are generated in the manufacturing process of dissolving pulp, for which Nippon Paper Industries established a production system at Kushiro Mill last October.

In methane fermentation, organic components will be converted into methane gas with the help of anaerobic bacteria. This resulting gas can be used as an alternative to heavy oil. The generated gas is defined as carbon-neutral fuel that does not emit carbon dioxide, so its use will reduce carbon dioxide emissions if it is used for heavy oil. Nippon Paper Industries has already commenced methane fermentation processing of waste liquids coming from the kraft pulp manufacturing process. While applying the technology, Nippon Paper Industries will review the use of acid hydrolysis liquid from dissolving pulp, which will be the world's first such case if it is successful.
Acid hydrolysis liquid has a range of potential applications. The first step will be to promote resource saving with the use of methane fermentation processing, as an environmental measure. Nippon Paper Industries will discuss higher-degree applications in the future.