Energy Saving in Papermaking through Filler Addition

The main purposes of filler addition in papermaking are to improve paper properties and reduce cost. The cost reduction is attributed to the low cost of the filler itself and to the energy savings that occur during the papermaking process. In this work, the effects of clay filler addition on the energy savings during the papermaking process, including water drainage, pressing, and drying, were systematically investigated. Experimental results indicated that the addition of filler could dramatically increase the drainage rate and the water removal rates during pressing and drying. With 20% filler addition, the drainage time decreased by 20% compared to the unfilled paper. At a filler content of 23%, the solids content of the handsheets after pressing increased at least 5 absolute points, and the drying rates increased by 20%. All these improvements can offer considerable benefits for paper mills, including enhanced machine speeds and large energy savings.