Real-time microbial monitoring in a paper mill

A fully automated in situ sampling and measurement device offers process analytical data for microbes in process water streams. Sensor data that is available 24/7 and in real-time makes trends in bacterial concentrations and the effect of biocides on bacterial viability directly accessible and fully quantitative.

With such information at hand, it becomes much more feasible to anticipate microbially induced quality and operational problems (e.g., odour, paper brakes, slime formation). Hence, countermeasures and preventive maintenance can be refined and optimised. More targeted and reduced biocide consumption is economically and environmentally beneficial. Importantly, financial losses due to downtime and faulty products can be minimised. Preventive maintenance rather than emergency shutdowns reduces strain on infrastructure and personnel. Efforts and cost for inefficient sampling and external analysis of infrequent microbial analyses of very little information content can be avoided.

By closing the “microbial gap” in process analytics and adding these crucial parameters to the process management system, the highly complex art of making paper becomes a touch less challenging and more controllable.