BioFimE

BioFimE: Control of biofilms in paper mill process by combined actions of low environmental impact

Production of pulp, paper and cardboard is one of the most water-consuming industrial process. Since twenty years, the law encourages industrial sites to reduce their water consumption and their discharge to the nature.

The paper industry tries to reduce the water consumption in its processes: between 1970 and 2004, the amount of fresh water consumed per ton of paper has been reduced of 90% (source CEPI[1]). Nevertheless, the closed loop and the water recycling in paper industry lead to the creation of biological sedimentation named biofilm (or slime) in water pipes and paper machine .

Those biofilms lead to major issues as stop of paper production … The chemical agents used as treatment present some health and environmental dangers.  Some laws may forbid the use of some agents of this type. Therefore, paper mills and producers of those chemical agents are in search of alternatives.

The BioFimE project aims at reducing chemical agents consumption in paper industry by trying to fight against biofilms with mechanical, chemical and biological actions. Those complementary actions should be respectful towards the environment and adapted to the production context.

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) aims at assessing the different options to fight against biofilms and identify the hotspots.


[1] Confederation of European Paper Industries

BioFimE (2009-2011, funded by the French National Research Agency) Control of biofilms in paper mill process by combined actions of low environmental impact.
Contact: Mélissa Cornélus, Arnaud Hélias