With chlorine leaving....

By Staff -- Purchasing, 12/10/1998

While chlorine demand remains strong and continued growth is projected for most areas, it continues to be phased out of use as a bleaching agent in pulp and paper production. In fact, Purchasing estimates that chlorine demand from pulp & paper applications will have shrunk to 8% of the U.S. total in 1998--the lowest level ever. Here's a quick look at which replacements are gaining the most ground.

Sodium chlorate, which produces chlorine dioxide, has so far benefited most. The chlorine swap is prompted by increased effluent regulations, and pulp and paper mills look to sodium chlorate mainly because chlorine dioxide use had already been in place for many years. "Ninety-five percent of sodium chlorate produced in North America is used in the bleaching of pulp," says Bart Kaluk, national sales manager for CXY Chemical. "We're expecting growth of 5%-6%/yr through 2001, due to the elimination of chlorine used in the bleaching process." But there are environmental questions about chlorine dioxide itself, and other chemicals have made inroads. Chlorine dioxide is commonly used in conjunction with other bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen. Sodium chlorate will account for 51% of bleaching chemical demand by 2001, according to a study by The Freedonia Group.

Hydrogen peroxide is used in conjunction with sodium chlorate as part of "elemental chlorine free" (ECF) pulp bleaching, but is also used without it in "totally chlorine free" (TCF) bleaching. This process also uses oxygen or ozone. However, it is expensive, and can yield weaker pulp. Demand for hydrogen peroxide in pulp bleaching is expected to grow to 26% of the total by 2001, according to Freedonia. Oxygen demand is projected to grow to 12%--nearly two times the share for chlorine.

Ozone is the newest and most innovative of pulp-bleaching technologies. It can result in lower costs as it allows for reduction in the total amount of bleaching chemicals needed. While it still makes up a very small share of the market, it often is considered to show the most promise for the future.

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