The Development and Optimisation of the Process Chemistry to Extract an Amorphous Silica Product from Geothermal Water to Enhance Paper Quality

Abstract

In 1987 Tasman Pulp and Paper company Ltd (Tasman) in conjunction with Geochemistry Research Ltd (GRL) began a project to recover precipitated amorphous silica from waste geothermal water. The objective was to produce a competitive precipitated silica having properties suitable for application as a filler material in Tasman's newsprint. Tasman identified the need to improve newsprint quality to remain international competitive with other newsprint suppliers. The high cost of importing newsprint fillers into New Zealand favoured the local manufacture of a cost effective filler.