AshLeach

Increased recovery boiler availability

 Increased recovery boiler availability
Valmet’s AshLeach separates non-process elements, primarily chloride and potassium, from
the liquor cycles of kraft pulp mills. AshLeach has demonstrated excellent performance,
with a solid track record covering installations in operation around the globe.
Closing the kraft mill process and
recycling precipitator ash bring about
enrichment of chloride and potassium
in the liquor cycle. This causes corro-
sion, cracking and plugging problems
in recovery boilers.
Traditionally, this has been solved
by purging ash from the electrostatic
precipitators which, however, presents
both environmental and economic
considerations since purged ash has
to be replaced with make-up chemi-
cals. Valmet’s chemical-saving
solution is AshLeach.
AshLeach treats electrostatic ash
from the recovery boiler using a
two-step process in which sodium
sulphate is recycled while chlorides
and potassium are separated from
the liquor cycle.
AshLeach performance
100%
80%
Removal of Cl and K
60%
40%
20%
0%
0% 20% 40%
Recovery of Sodium Sulphate
Typical performance of AshLeach equipment.
Data is based on units in operation.
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Improve your recovery Proven track record
boiler availability AshLeach has been providing out-
standing customer value ever since
AshLeach reduces the risk of corro-
the start of the first unit, installed in
sion, cracking and plugging in recov-
Brazil in 2002. Shortly after this first
ery boilers, ensuring high availability.
order, the same customer purchased
a new unit five times the capacity of
Save your money
the first one.
Money is saved on make-up chemi-
AshLeach is currently installed and
cals as most of the sodium sulfate is
running all over the globe, treating
recycled. The recycling is done with-
electric precipitator ash in mills
out causing enrichment of chloride
producing pulp from eucalyptus,
and potassium in the liquor cycle.
acacia, pine and a number of other
woods.
Save the environment
As precipitator ash contains heavy High availability
metals, purging ash contaminates
Thanks to the simplicity of its process
the environment. AshLeach returns
solution, an AshLeach plant is very
heavy metals to the liquor cycle to
easy to maintain and operate.
later be removed in the green liquor
AshLeach means high availability
filtration process.
and good long-term performance.
AshLeach results
8%
Cl
Chlorides and Potassium
6%
K
4%
2%
0%
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
60% 80% 100%
Month
Chloride and potassium content of ash at a mill with a newly
installed AshLeach. The graph shows data of the first seven
months of operation.
AshLeach references
Suzano Celulose e UPM Kymi
Papel, Imperatriz 109 t/d (2008)
287 t/d (2014, DUO)

Södra Cell Värö

Veracel Celulose
85 t/d (2007)
168 t/d (2005)

Eldorado Celulose e Oji Paper, Nantong

Papel, Três Lagoas 169 t/d (2014)
350 t/d (2013, DUO)

Fibria Celulose Double A

Três Lagoas mill (Advance Agro)
230 t/d (2009) 2x85 t/d (2013)

Fibria Celulose
CELBI
Jacareí
Figueira da Foz
150 t/d (2011)
163 t/d (2009)

Fibria Celulose,
Aracruz CMPC Guaiba Klabin Suzano MUCURI SAPPI Portucel
56 t/d (2002) 350 t/d (2015, Otacilio Costa 180 t/d (2004) N’godwana Setúbal
202 t/d (2005) DUO) 30 t/d (2014) 260 t/d (2007) 160 t/d (2014, DUO) 160 t/d (2007)

Centrifuge

The AshLeach Process

AshLeach is fed with a stream of precipi-
tator ash.
Vent
In the first step of the leaching process, gas Reject

ash and water are mixed into a slurry.

Solids (Na2SO 4)
Most of the sodium sulphate remains sol- - to mixtank)
id while most of the chloride and potassi-
Ash in
um dissolve. For each different type of ash Recycle Slurry
it is essential to achieve optimum charac-
teristics for highest removal and recovery
performance. Water

Acid *
In the second step, the liquid fraction is
separated from the solid fraction by a
centrifuge. The liquid fraction, which con-
Slurry
tains most of the chlorides and potassium, Water
pump
is led to wastewater treatment. The solid
fraction, primarily containing sodium
sulphate, is returned to the liquor cycle. *
Acid can be used to improve the efficiency
if the ash has high carbonate content.

3
 Our 11,000 professionals
around the world work close
to our customers and are
committed to moving our
customers’ performance
forward – every day.

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© Valmet Corporation, HPGB_B_2300_018-02 02/2014.

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Specifications in this document are subject to change without notice.
Product names in this publication are all trademarks of Valmet Corporation.