Effect of PCC crystallization and morphology on flocculation with microfibrillated cellulose, on sheet densification and liquid absorption behavior

Composite sheets consisting of elongated and aggregated cationically charged precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and native microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared with a wet laying method. The furnishes were prepared with and without an anionic flocculating agent (polyacrylamide) in order to adjust the structure of the sheet. The samples were compressed (densified) in order to determine the particle and microfibrillated cellulose-PCC structure coalescence and densification, as well as its subsequent influence on liquid absorption behavior. The densification affected both the vertical and lateral distribution of PCC, but the flocculating agent enhanced the compression stability and stabilized the sheets against PCC material flow. The differences between the sheets made with and without the flocculation aid affected the absorption of an anionic dye-based fluid ink, which was evident as a higher print density and less print bleeding. The absorption behavior was dependent on the sheet structure, especially on the PCC distribution within the sheets. Finally, the role of MFC on floc structure and floc formation is discussed. Graphic abstract

Oil Removal from Refinery Wastes by Air Flotation

Air flotation as a physical separation process for removing oily products and suspended solid matter from refinery wastewaters achieves removal efficiencies from 65% to more than 90%. Demonstrated capacity of the process for COD and BOD removal ranges up to 90%. With addition of flotation and flocculation aid chemicals better performance is achieved. Current results are presented and critically reviewed. It appears that the pressure dissolved-air flotation system employing recycle-flow operation can produce effluent containing consistently less than 15 p.p.m. of oil and suspended solids. Its performance and capacity of handling overload situations makes it superior to the conventional flocculation-sedimentation technique. Oil removal limitations of the process and current research trends are stressed including an electro-flotation technique. Some aspects of process optimization are also discussed.