ARC will manufacture and market the thermal Colloid Analyser, a combination of ARC–developed software and analysis tools, and UV-Vis spectrophotometer hardware supplied by Varian, Inc., as a tool to help pulp mill operators better manage their water usage. Specifically, the technology will enable mill operators to improve measurement and control of the stability, concentration and composition of resin byproducts (or pitch) in papermaking process streams.
"We're excited to bring this technology to the marketplace, as we believe it will help mills significantly lower water usage through better management of the contaminants that foul machinery, " says Ted Garver, manager, ARC's Aquantix Group. "This contamination and the resulting loss of production has been a long-standing problem in the industry. Our breakthrough has been to recognize and characterize the relationship between particle stickiness and the thermal response of light scattering of the pitch particles. This advance allows us to engineer better tools to measure and control particle stability in papermaking process streams.
"Currently, mills perform this control measure manually in a lab. Using our technology, these tests can be performed faster, cheaper and more accurately," says Garver. "We estimate cost savings for a mill to be 50 per cent of their present costs, or approximately $250,000 per year."
"Our relationship with ARC demonstrates that Varian, Inc. is committed to helping customers find innovative solutions that address rigorous and demanding challenges," says Martin O'Donoghue, vice-president of Analytical Instruments, Varian, Inc. "Our instrumentation incorporates the best thermal and spectroscopic analysis hardware available to provide analytical results for the extended variety of conditions found in papermaking process streams."
ARC previously sold one thermal Colloid Analyser unit to Hercules Corp., a leading worldwide supplier of functional, process, and water treatment chemical programs for the pulp and paper industry. Garver estimates ARC will sell 40 units in the next three years.
Two patent applications have been awarded to ARC in Canada, the US and worldwide. The same technology can also be applied to manufacturing processes in the oil & gas, cosmetics, agriculture and food processing industries.
Varian, Inc. is a major supplier of scientific instruments, vacuum technologies, and specialized contract electronics manufacturing services. These businesses serve a broad range of life science and industrial customers worldwide. The company manufactures in 15 locations in North America, Europe, and the Pacific Rim and employs 4,300 people.
The Aquantix Group at ARC provides measurement and control solutions for high-value pulp and paper process water problems to improve processing efficiency, reduce costs and minimize environmental effects. Aquantix instruments are used to characterize dissolved and colloidal substances to provide control of the sources and effects of water contamination to improve productivity and quality.
Alberta Research Council Inc. (ARC) develops and commercializes technologies to give clients a competitive advantage. A Canadian leader in innovation, ARC provides solutions globally to the energy, life sciences, agriculture, environment, forestry and manufacturing sectors.
For more information, contact:
Ted Garver, Manager
Aquantix Group
Alberta Research Council Inc.
Tel: 780-450-5065
E-mail: garver@arc.ab.ca
Ms. Lauren Lum
Manager, Public Relations
Varian, Inc.
Tel: 650-424-5286
E-mail: Lauren.lum@varianinc.com