8 6 Helmut Gutenberger and Wojciech Pastuszczyn on ... - Messer

only leads to unwanted deposits; the solid calcium
carbonate, due to its high degree of whiteness, also
has a very big influence on the whiteness of the paper.
We raise the pH value by adding carbon dioxide from
Messer, which reduces the dissolution of calcium carbonate.
Though carbon dioxide also forms a mild acid
– carbonic acid – when dissolved in water, it has a
bacteriostatic effect <strong>and</strong> therefore inhibits the growth
of microbes in a natural way.
on air: Is the use of carbon dioxide really a good
choice in terms of environmental compatibility?
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: We obtain most of the carbon
dioxide from industrial waste gas, thereby preventing
the CO2 from getting into the atmosphere in the first
place. Instead it is used in processes in which its role
is to prevent environmental pollution. In the aforementioned
example, the carbon dioxide is completely
dissolved in the water. A paper mill’s extremely high
energy dem<strong>and</strong> means that its “carbon footprint” – the
CO2 emissions during the entire process chain – is
inherently very large. We are currently working on the
concept of a “green paper mill” which produces absolutely
no CO2 emissions <strong>and</strong> in which fresh water consumption
is reduced significantly by recycling the
water. The paper industry must aim to reduce CO2, water <strong>and</strong> energy consumption – as must we all!
Sustainability is vital. We entered the market with the
aim of being the partner of choice for the paper industry.
We want to conserve resources together.
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>: By using CO2 we can reduce the
use of biocides. Biocides get into the wastewater
on air 09 · 2008
where they inhibit microbiological activity, without
which wastewater treatment plants don’t work. Most
paper mills have their own wastewater treatment
plants; here, too, carbon dioxide can be used as an
environmentally friendly substitute for sulphuric acid
in order to achieve wastewater neutralisation.
on air: How do you achieve know-how transfer?
<strong>Wojciech</strong> <strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>: I know what I don’t know – the
paper industry is developing at a rapid pace, so in my
view the best way to learn is to study the processes
intensively. At the beginning, I carried out system analyses
at twelve Polish mills before concluding the first
contract for pulp washing with carbon dioxide. After
initial contact has been made, it can take anything
from six months to three or four years for a contract
to be concluded.
<strong>Helmut</strong> <strong>Gutenberger</strong>: Both my father <strong>and</strong> gr<strong>and</strong>father
were papermakers <strong>and</strong> I myself have worked in the
paper industry for over 20 years. I am hugely fascinated
by this industry – which is why I am happy to pass
on my knowledge, although the diversity factor does
make transferring know-how difficult. After four years,
we can say that we are very successful in the pulp <strong>and</strong>
paper sector thanks to the good working relationship
we have with our customers, with institutes <strong>and</strong> with
our colleagues in Messer’s European subsidiaries. To
quote figures: we have sold 14 million cubic metres of
our gases to paper manufacturers.
Diana Buss, Messer Group
Paper webs during the production
process. “There are just as many
papermaking processes as there
are types of paper”, says <strong>Wojciech</strong>
<strong>Pastuszczyn</strong>.
Interview : 7