Unlocking the green gold: maximising tall oil yield with chemical solutions by Hannu Hämäläinen, Pulp Segment Team Leader, BIM Kemi and Johan Berglund, Senior Product Developer, BIM Kemi

PAPERTECHNOLOGYINTERNATIONAL
Optimising process control for improved tall oil yield
Another challenge impeding full tall oil yield has been the
lack of proper analysis and process control measures throughout
the process. Starting with brown stock washing, where the soap
chemistry is complex and typically not monitored, and continuing
through soap skimming tanks often controlled mostly manually or
semi-manually, it is not surprising that some yield losses can be
attributable to suboptimal process control.
The key issue lies in the complex nature of soap in black
liquor, which makes real-time analysis and tracking dificult. To
address this, BIM Kemi uses a series of innovative analytical
methods to evaluate soapy liquors, which reinforces the BIM
TOMAX concept. These methods include:
1. Visual glass flask separation tests.
This is a visual method used to observe the separation
process. A black liquor sample is collected and placed in an
oven to allow natural separation, see images top right.
2. Heat centrifugal separation.
This is a volumetric analysis to measure the amount of soap
that is separable from the black liquor and the quantity of tall
oil that can be produced. The method, which is based on the
Pinola analysis method, uses specific centrifuge glasses for
soap separation and tall oil production.
3. A new camera-based image analysis method.
The camera image analysis method can detect and visualise
soap particles in black liquor, measuring their count, size,
and shape to provide quantifiable, actionable data in a
new, unique way. Thanks to this methodology, the effect
of chemistry changes can be more reliably observed,
documented, and adjusted. This leads to signi昀椀cantly
improved process control, reduced variability, and ultimately,
higher tall oil yields.
Environmental and economic benefits
Improving tall oil recovery brings a twofold benefit: it
reduces waste/operational costs and adds value. Improved tall
oil recovery reduces organic load in recovery cycles, leading to
lower maintenance needs in evaporators and recovery boilers, and
improved mill energy efficiency. For pulp mills, the economic returns
from even modest yield improvements are significant, considering
the scale of production and the market price of tall oil.
Figure 5a and 5b: Separation of soap from black liquor without
dosage of BIM soap booster. 5b: Separation of soap from black
liquor with dosage of BIM soap booster. A more compact layer
of soap with less black liquor in the soap.
Key advantages include:
1. Higher profitability
• Increased tall oil yield translates directly to higher revenue
• Reduced energy use and less waste disposal costs
2. Sustainability gains
• Lower reliance on fossil-derived chemicals
• Higher utilisation of renewable resources
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions by using tall oilbased biofuels
3. Regulatory compliance
As governments mandate stricter sustainability and circular
economy measures, efficient by-product recovery will be critical for
compliance and future-proofing industrial operations.
As demand for renewable raw materials continues to grow,
the strategic importance of tall oil will only increase. The market is
set for expansion, and mills that optimise their recovery processes
now will be better positioned to capitalise on this growth.
Conclusion - unlocking value from a hidden resource
Tall oil recovery represents a significant, yet often
underexploited, opportunity for pulp and paper mills to enhance
both their economic and environmental performance. By moving
beyond traditional methods and embracing advanced chemical
solutions, mills can unlock the full potential of this once-overlooked
by-product. Chemical innovations such as those in the BIM TOMAX
concept provide scalable, cost-effective methods to boost recovery
rates, reduce losses, and align with the broader push towards
sustainability. By adopting such solutions, mills can convert what
was once considered waste into a valuable resource, transforming
the economics and impact of pulp production in a bio-based future.
Figure 6: Centrifuge test to analyse separable soap content.
BIM Kemi is a family-owned entrepreneurial company that has been developing and producing specialty chemicals for the global
pulp and paper industry with a focus on sustainable solutions since 1973. Over the years, BIM Kemi has been listed four times
among Europe’s top 500 rapidly growing entrepreneurial companies and received several awards for its dedication and contributions to the
business world and the industry. With a global workforce of dedicated professionals, BIM Kemi operates across the world, with production
units located in Sweden, Norway, Finland, the UK, and South Africa, and local operations in Germany, Poland, Belgium, the Czech Republic,
Portugal, and France and agents and distributors in most other countries with pulp and paper manufacturing. The headquarters are located
in Stenkullen, outside Gothenburg, Sweden, and house the central research and development department, customer service lab, and one
of 昀椀ve production facilities. BIM Kemi are members of the UN Global Compact and have a gold rating by Ecovadis. We are your dedicated
partner in innovative and green chemistry solutions for the pulp and paper industry. To learn more, visit: https://www.bimkemi.com
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