Blog >> Major players in bleaching process

The pulp bleaching process has risen to become one of the most important processes in paper making. Regardless of whether virgin pulp or recycled pulp was used, it is necessary to first bleach them before white paper can be made. With an increasing emphasis on environmental issues, traditional Elemental-Chlorine-Free (ECF) pulp bleaching processes are less preferred simply because of the effects chlorine has on the environment. Hence, Total-Chlorine-Free (TCF) alternatives are preferred in modern paper mills today. One of the more commonly used chemical is Hydrogen Peroxide.

 

 

Hydrogen Peroxide is an effective bleaching agent and is a perfect replacement for the conventional Chlorine Dioxide bleaching. Pulp bleached using Hydrogen Peroxide are able to achieve high brightness, strength and optical properties that are on par with those bleached by ECF chemicals.

 

Paper makers prefer to use solutions instead of pure liquid Hydrogen Peroxide as they can achieve similar effects while being more cost efficient and uphold higher safety standards during the manufacturing process. The concentrations of Hydrogen Peroxide used in the paper industry usually ranges from 60-70% with active oxygen contents and appears as colourless and odourless solutions. Currently, the main industrial manufacturing process of Hydrogen Peroxide is the anthraquinone process. This process is based on catalytic redox reaction of 2-alkyl-anthraquinone using Hydrogen and Oxygen gas, producing Hydrogen Peroxide in the process. The average price of Hydrogen Peroxide ranges from 400 to 600 USD/ton depending on the concentrations.

 

Country	Price in USD/ ton	Total import value/USD	Average price in USD/ton
USA	643	69,034,000	-
Norway	514	51,035,000
Germany	321	43,262,000
Taipei	676	27,022,000

 

Country	Price in USD/ ton	Total export value/USD	Average price in USD/ton
Belgium	525	84,214,000	470
Netherlands	323	53,975,000
Korea	428	50,113,000
Brazil	497	47,750,000

 

Click here to have a look at Hydrogen Peroxide that is available. Visit us at paper-chemicals.biz or contact us at contact@chemtradeasia.com for more information.

By: Albert