Technical Bulletin No. 0130: Experimental Incineration of Paper Mill Sludges

The attached Technical Bulletin was originally distributed in May 1960, and was based on a paper presented by Mr. Russell 0. Blosser, then Central-Lake States Regional Engineer, at the February 1960 Annual Meeting of Members. It summarized work completed under Mr. Blosser's direction on experimental incineration of paper mill sludges. At that time the most common forms of sludge disposal practiced involved either land disposal or basin storage, with attendant possibilities for development of nuisance conditions. The results obtained in this investigation showed that incineration held out great promise for disposal of dewatered sludges, particularly those low in ash content. Incineration could affect a major reduction in volume and produce a residue acceptable for disposal in areas where dewatered sludge might prove unacceptable or present excessive land requirements. The tests indicated that such sludges could be handled in conventional sludge burning equipment. The possibility was also advanced that low ash content sludges could be charged to existing boilers without adverse effect or extensive changes in firing or ash removal mechanisms. Since then, this promise has in fact been realized through growing use of incineration disposal, particularly at kraft mills. At the same time the National Council program is giving increasing attention to the problem of disposal of high ash content sludges. At present this program is concentrating on development of optimal land disposal techniques. Work is also being planned on the separation of inorganic materials from such sludges for possible reuse and to facilitate incineration disposal of the remaining sludge.