Kemira has been chosen as a finalist in ICIS’ Innovation Awards with its new KemRevive concept for recycling starch in packaging board making. Kemira’s innovation is competing with its KemRevive concept in the “Innovation with the best benefit for the environment and sustainability” category. ICIS is organizing the 14th Innovation Awards in the search for the best innovations in the chemical industry. The Awards seek to recognize and reward companies for their innovative products and processes that prove benefits to the environment and enhance sustainability. “The new KemRevive concept allows our customers to greatly improve starch reuse in manufacturing of packaging board from recycled fiber raw material”, explains Jaakko Ekman, Senior Research Scientist working in the Microbiology & Biotechnology team in the Espoo R&D Center. “Currently up to 4 % of the raw material can be lost due to starch degradation, resulting in major economic losses and less sustainable production. The new KemRevive concept developed by Kemira R&D offers a two-step process enabling both starch protection and starch retention.
The two steps included in the KemRevive concept are:
• Starch protection step utilizes an amylase enzyme inhibitor (FennoSpec 1200 product) that prevents enzymatic degradation of starch. The step also includes a biocide program to control microbiological activity
• Starch retention step consists of retention (KemForm) and strength (FennoBond) systems to retain starch and to boost productivity
• Starch retention step consists of retention (KemForm) and strength (FennoBond) systems to retain starch and to boost productivity
“The new KemRevive concept provides multiple benefits to board makers, including more efficient and sustainable raw material usage, improved strength and productivity, better runnability, and lower concentrations of dissolved calcium and COD in process and waste waters”, says Sampo Lahtinen, VP R&D and Technology EMEA. “It is a great addition to our portfolio and a great example of our commitment to deliver new improved solutions to our customers. Being shortlisted by the ICIS Innovation Awards gives visibility and external acknowledgement to our innovation accomplishments, and gives us an extra boost to move forward.”
The finalists in all six Innovation Awards categories will continue to final stage of judging in the beginning of September. The winners of the ICIS Innovation Awards will be announced in mid-October, and the Awards will be presented in December 2017.
ICIS is the world’s largest information provider for the petrochemical, oil and energy industries.