The Scandinavian mechanical pulp and paper industry has been facing great challenges during the past decades, mainly because of declining demand for newsprint, and higher prices on raw material and energy. One way of increasing profitability is to produce more value-added products besides the...

A conceptual biorefinery, based on repurposing a kraft pulp mill, has been studied. In the process an alkaline pre-treatment unit separates the incoming wood raw-material to a cellulose-rich pulp and a residue liquor containing dissolved lignin. The pulp is sent to an ethanol line, while the...