Industrial Sludge Brochure

The Stora Enso, Niagara Mill, wasestablished in 1889. Niagara Mill uses7,500,000 gallons per day of waterfrom the river to make pulp & paper.The removal of the solids is accom-plished by treating it with alum, then aflocculent, allowing the solids to settleout in a 2,000,000 gallon setting tanksystem. This tank requires yearlycleaning to ensure quality water forthe paper making process and perfor-mance of equipment on the bottom ofthe tank.THE CHALLENGEThis yearly event is critical to ensurequality process water is available inmaking the high quality pulp andpaper. The mill needs to empty theentire 2,000,000 gallon tank that con-tains approximately 60,000 to 80,000pounds of solids. The solids need tobe consolidated as much as possibleto reduce disposal cost. Historically,the tank is decanted to the river,ensuring the solids level is well withinpermit levels. The sludge was thenslowly flushed and washed to the clar-ifier for retreating then sent to the pri-mary solids pressing area, which isnot designed for alum sludge. Thisprocedure increased chemical cost,caused upsets in the clarifier andpressing systems, and created timerestraints due to low flows to preventupsets. An alternative to handling thealum sludge was needed. Emptyingand cleaning the tank and removal bytruck to an off-site processing facilitywould be extremely costly, and couldnot be accomplished in the shortdowntime period.THE SOLUTIONSteven Lewens, operations coordina-tor for Stora Enso, selected Geotube®technology to contain and dewaterthe 2 million gallons of alum sludgethat was pumped from the settlingtank. This would accomplished theirimmediate need of containing thesolids, discharging water within theirpermit limits, all while reducing down-time and at a significant cost savings.They were able to completely flushand clean the tank out in record time,without sending high solids loads toother areas, allowing plenty of time formaintenance work in the tank. An on-site chemical was added to the feedsolids to ensure low filtrate solids andfaster dewatering. Upon testing theGeotube® filtrate, the solids were solow that they are able to send the fil-trate directly to the river instead of theclarifier, reducing the loading on othertreatment areas. The Geotube® hasthe capacity to contain several yearsof alum sludge settling from the tankclean-outs. The Geotube® will beallowed to sit over winter which greatlyenhances the dewatering process.When the solids in the Geotube® areremoved, they will actually be at aneven higher percentage than the olderprocess, further reducing hauling andlandfill cost. Pulp & Paper Sludge DewateringStora Enso, Niagara Mill, WisconsinGeotube® ContainersJOB OWNER:Stora Enso, Niagara MillENGINEERSteven LewensCONTRACTOR:Stora EnsoapplicationlocationproductThe Leader in Geocontainment SolutionsCase StudyGeotube® technology allows for easy field installation. Operations Coordinator, Jeff McCulloch, inspects thedewatering degree of the Geotube® container.cs.enso.0304The information contained herein is to the best of our knowledge accurate, but since the circumstances and conditions inwhich it may be used are beyond our control, we do not accept any liability for any loss or damage, however arising,which results directly or indirectly from use of this information nor do we offer any warranty or immunity against patentinfringement. Geotube®, Geobag®, and Geocontainer® are registered Trademarks of Ten Cate Nicolon.®3680 Mount Olive RoadCommerce, GA 30529(888) 795-0808 Fax (706) 335-3405www.geotube.comThe Leader in Geocontainment SolutionsCase StudyPERFORMANCEGeotube Dewatering technology, con-tained over 99% of the Total SuspendedSolids (TSS) with filtrate BOD of around 7mg/l, permitting direct discharge withoutusing other mill treatment areas as prac-ticed in the past. Steven Lewens, coordi-nated the installation,set up, andoperation of the Geotube Dewateringprocess. Chemical consumption was atapproximately 50% of historic usagewhen compared to the clarifier and press-ing area. Geotube® technology is givingStora Enso, Niagara Mill, the latest con-tainment and dewatering technology atreduced cost, enhanced benefits, whileensuring an environmentally friendly solu-tion.w w w . g e o t u b e . c o mSolids going into the Geotube® container isabout 9,000 mg/l.Sludge from inside the Geotube® immedi-ately begins to dewater.Resulting filtrate weeping out of theGeotube® container at about 8 mg/l permit-ted the filtrate to discharge directly to theriver.Clean filtrate flows from Geotube® while filling.Fast and easy installation exceeds expectations.