PULPING OF COTTON LINTERS

The process is based on Naco process that worldwide well known to the operators of the pulp industry and has been also described in the international technical magazines in its different applications
The characteristics and main advantages guaranteed by the process compared with the activities based on conventional process are

Sulfur and chlorine free technology. Air and caustic (NaOH as make up) will be the oniy chemicals required (when O and/or pressurized peroxide technology for bleaching is applied)

Higher yield than other conventional processes.

Pulp easy to be bleached.
TCF bleached pulp can be obtained by short ‘chlorine free” bleaching sequences and  it will guarantee safe and health to the end users.

Chemical recovery
Possibility to operate with specific technology for the organic matter incineration and chemical recovery also when raw materials with high silica content like agricultural residues are used. No recausticizing, consequentiy no problem in lime kiln operation and/or in sludges disposal.

Minimum enviromental impact
With an anaerobic/aerobic treatment of the mill effluent facilitated by the absence of Cl- and S inhibitors the limits of the ecological reguiations in the majority of the situations can be met.

Acceptable investments for a complete green field plant, also of limited capacity due to short sequences in bieaching, simplified recovery and compactness of the installation.

The linters pulp is currently used:

• for specialty papers like banknote, security, and artistic paper;
• for chemical application like acetate, viscose etc.

A mill based on the our know-how for linters processing looks very simple with a short  sequence using chemicals as NaOH/O2, O2/O3 and H2O2 .
Comparing the two block diagramsof the Naco process and a conventional mill for cotton linters production, the difference can be easily realized.

The first Mill for linters pulp production based on Naco Technology started 1993 was marketing pulp for specialty paper up to 1995. The pulp was evaluated by the clients as the best on the market.
Basing on the positive results of this commercial operation, the decision to updating the plant structure and to double the plant capacity was taken.
Other Naco linters Mill would be Cellulosa 2000 in Crotone, Italy,  an excellent pulping plant which unfortunatly, is not operational, is suffering a virus of human origin!.