INVESTIGATION OF ALTERNATIVE GRITS DISPOSAL OPTIONS FOR OPAL MARYVALE

Pranav Nair
Graduate Process Engineer, Opal Australian Paper 

Keywords: Slaker Grits, Recovery, Liquor cycle, Lime Slaking

Grits are a solid waste product generated from the lime slaker within the chemical recovery process at Opal Maryvale. EPA Victoria classifies slaker grits as a ‘Category A’ Hazardous waste due to its pH being greater than 12.5. Opal Australian Paper disposes of slaker grits in an onsite landfill. With the onsite landfill nearing capacity and the business vision to not build another landfill, alternatives to on-site landfill disposal were investigated. 

Pranav is a graduate process engineer at Opal Australian Paper in Maryvale. Through the graduate program he has worked in paper machines- linerboard, sack, bag and communications paper, wastewater & filtration and power & recovery. Pranav has recently completed his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering at Monash University. Pranav has a passion for continuous process improvements in a manufacturing environment.