Explosions Due to Hydrogen and Hydrogen Sulfide Build-up
As paper mills have begun to close up their water systems and move toward zero effluent discharge, they are finding that closing a mill’s water system can lead to changes in a mill’s water chemistry. These can include a build-up of nutrients which can increase the amount of microbes in a mill’s system. In the absence of oxygen that might be found in tanks, chests, and pipes, anaerobic bacteria can thrive.
When certain types of anaerobic bacteria break down the organic material found in a mill, hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen gases can be formed and released. One group of anaerobic bacteria, sulfate-reducing bacteria or SRB, produce hydrogen sulfide gas as a byproduct of their metabolic process. Other anaerobic bacteria, including clostridia, produce hydrogen gas as a byproduct of their metabolic processes.
Both these gases, if present in sufficient amounts, can be a safety concern — particularly for explosions — in a paper mill. Monitoring for these gases can help detect harmful levels of the gases before incident occurs.
RPTA issued Technical Bulletin 16, Hydrogen and Hydrogen Sulfide Gases, which provides guidance on monitoring for these gases.
The U.S. Chemical Safety Board issued a Bulletin that provides guidance on hot work in such areas.
LATEST NEWS
RPTA Scholarship
The Recycled Paperboard Technical Association has established (2) $5,000 scholarship to recognize outstanding students who are interested in the recycled paperboard industry.
To qualify, students must meet the following criteria:
- Earn a 3.25 GPA
- Declare a Paper Engineering or Science major
- Served (or intend to serve) as a cooperative student or intern at a recycled paperboard mill
- Comply with applicable requirements for maintaining paper foundation scholarships of your school
- Comply with applicable scholarship policies of your school
Click here to access the 2023 Scholarship Application form.
ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY March 15, 2023.
For further information please contact: Jackie Howe at (202) 347-9069 or jhowe@rpta.org.
2022 Industry Profile Study
Registration is complete, with 69 paper machines at 48 mills registered. Samples must be received by April 7, 2023, to be included in study.
Members can access reports from prior years at this member-only page.
2022 RPTA Fall Roundtable
On October 19th, we held an in-person seminar on Paper Machine Clothing Design, covering the impact of forming, press and dryer fabrics on paper machine operations. Roundtable presentation slides are available at this member-only page.
Winter Webinar
On January 25, 2023, we held a virtual webinar on Felt Cleaning and Conditioning, covering the mechanical and chemical processes to keep felts operating effectively with optimum felt life. The webinar recording and presentation slides are available at this member-only page.
UPCOMING EVENTS
2023 P-T Seminar (April)
The 2023 Production-Technical Seminar will be held in Atlanta on April 24 and 25, co-located with TAPPICon.
- Safer Operations
- Fiber Recovery Optimization
- Process Data Best Practices
- Wet End Operations
Click here for full RPTA Seminar agenda.
Register @ www.TAPPICon.org
- Register for the P-T Seminar alone or TAPPICon which includes the Seminar.
- Early bird rate ends March 24.
- There are significant mill/company group registration discounts.
- See "Hotel/Travel" on TAPPI page to plan your trip.
YOU ARE INVITED to two free, RPTA member-only special events, not included with registration.
- Member Lunch on April 24
- Roundtable Breakfast on April 25
Click here to attend one or both special events. Deadline to sign up is April 17th.