[go: up one dir, main page]
More Web Proxy on the site http://driver.im/

EP0951599B1 - Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower - Google Patents

Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower Download PDF

Info

Publication number
EP0951599B1
EP0951599B1 EP97912616A EP97912616A EP0951599B1 EP 0951599 B1 EP0951599 B1 EP 0951599B1 EP 97912616 A EP97912616 A EP 97912616A EP 97912616 A EP97912616 A EP 97912616A EP 0951599 B1 EP0951599 B1 EP 0951599B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
pulp
chelating agent
stage
mixing
bleaching
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP97912616A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0951599A1 (en
Inventor
Ulf Germgard
Jonas Lindquist
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Valmet AB
Original Assignee
Valmet Fibertech AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Valmet Fibertech AB filed Critical Valmet Fibertech AB
Publication of EP0951599A1 publication Critical patent/EP0951599A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0951599B1 publication Critical patent/EP0951599B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21CPRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • D21C9/00After-treatment of cellulose pulp, e.g. of wood pulp, or cotton linters ; Treatment of dilute or dewatered pulp or process improvement taking place after obtaining the raw cellulosic material and not provided for elsewhere
    • D21C9/02Washing ; Displacing cooking or pulp-treating liquors contained in the pulp by fluids, e.g. wash water or other pulp-treating agents
    • DTEXTILES; PAPER
    • D21PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
    • D21CPRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
    • D21C9/00After-treatment of cellulose pulp, e.g. of wood pulp, or cotton linters ; Treatment of dilute or dewatered pulp or process improvement taking place after obtaining the raw cellulosic material and not provided for elsewhere
    • D21C9/10Bleaching ; Apparatus therefor
    • D21C9/1026Other features in bleaching processes
    • D21C9/1042Use of chelating agents

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the bleaching of chemical pulp with chlorine-free chemicals.
  • the invention more precisely, refers to a method of pretreating the pulp with chelating agents in combination with the bleaching.
  • Bleaching is carried out in most cases by treating the papermaking pulp to be bleached with chlorine-free chemicals first with a chelating agent of the type EDTA or DTPA.
  • the chelating agent has the object to remove from the pulp certain metal ions, particularly manganese, copper, iron a.o., which affect the bleaching result negatively, if they remain in the pulp.
  • the chelating agent usually is designated by the letter Q.
  • the pulp is washed after the Q-step, so that the exposed metal ions are eliminated from the pulp as completely as possible. Thereafter the bleaching takes place, which normally is carried out with hydrogen peroxide, at times in combination with oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide steps are designated with the letter P, and P-steps reinforced with oxygen are designated with OP or PO where the dominating chemical is mentioned first.
  • P Hydrogen peroxide steps
  • OP P-steps reinforced with oxygen
  • the original pulp normally is oxygen delignified to a relatively low kappa number prior to the QP-bleaching.
  • a low kappa number before the bleaching implies that the obtainable maximum bleaching result increases in the subsequent step, and that the bleaching chemical demand is reduced.
  • the QP-bleaching most often is carried out in such a way, that the pulp first is passed through a pump, which pumps the pulp suspension through the treatment steps. Thereafter follows a mixer where the chelating agent is added to the pulp. The next step is a bleaching tower, where the pulp without additional agitation slowly passes through and where all remaining reaction takes place. The pulp finally passes to a washing step where the exposed and complexed metal ions are washed out. The freed liquid enriched on metal ions most often is discharged.
  • the conditions normally applied in a Q-step are a temperature of 70-90°C, a retention time of 1-2 hours, a pulp consistency of 10-14%, a pH of 5-7 and a charge of chelating agent of 1-3 kg per ton pulp.
  • a very good metal separation can be achieved, which is necessary if subsequent bleaching is carried out on pulp with low lignin content (the kappa number is below about 5) and if a large amount of hydrogen peroxide is used in the stage (more than 15 kg/t). If, however, the pulp still contains a considerable amount of lignin (kappa number above about 5), and the hydrogen peroxide charge in the subsequent step is limited to about 5-10 kg/t, the demand for a complete metal elimination is less critical.
  • the Q-step per se is an unnecessary treatment step, because no proper bleaching takes place there.
  • the Q-treatment is necessary for a following successful P- or PO-bleaching, as appears from the aforesaid. If the Q-step could be simplified without reducing the effectiveness in the elimination of metals, great savings could be made, because a complete bleaching stage is expensive.
  • the present invention is directed to a simplification of the Q-step, especially for pulps with kappa number above about 5, and for chelating agent treatments which require less than 60% metal reduction.
  • the simplification implies, that the investment cost decreases in relation to a conventional Q-step.
  • the invention is based on the surprising observation, that the effectiveness of the Q-step is considerably less affected by increased reaction temperature than by increased retention time. This indicates, according to classical chemical cinetics, that the Q-step is diffusion controlled and not reaction controlled. This means, that the Q-step should be carried out so that the diffusion is facilitated, and if this is made effectively, the total retention time can thereby be reduced substantially.
  • the best method to reduce the diffusion resistance is to decrease the diffusion distance for active reactants and released reaction products. On a technical scale this is made by effective mixing, for example in a mixer with long retention time. Thus, by effective mixing, the retention time in the Q-step can be shortened.
  • the number of mixing steps is not critical, but the total mixing time must be above a certain critical level, alternatively at least two mixing apparatuses shall be used. For economic reasons, however, the number of mixing steps must be held on a reasonable level. For a pulp with kappa number above about 5, which shall be bleached further with at maximum about 5-10 kg hydrogen peroxide exclusive possible oxygen, a suitable number of mixing steps is 1-2. The same applies, if the metal reduction to be achieved in the chelating agent step is limited and need not be above 60%.
  • the stay-time between the mixing steps shall be short, less than 10 minutes and preferably less than 5 minutes.
  • the mixing steps then shall be carried out one after the other without intermediate washing.
  • the washing required for removing the metals from the pulp suspension shall be carried out less than 15 minutes after the last mixing step.
  • the entire charge of chelating agent shall be added in the first mixing step, and subsequent mixing steps bring about only a renewed mixing.
  • the chelating agent preferably is of the type EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) or DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), but also other types of chelating agent can be used, for example NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) or DTPMP (diethylene triamine pentamythylene phosphoric acid).
  • the total amount of added chelating agent should be 0.5-3 kg per ton pulp (calculated as pure chelating agent), preferably 1-2 kg per ton pulp.
  • the temperature in the Q-step should be above 75°C, suitably over 80°C and more preferably over 85°C.
  • a preferred temperature interval is 85-110°C.
  • the desired pH interval is pH 5 to pH 11.
  • the pulp consistency should be between 2 and 16%.
  • An especially effective mixing can be achieved by using high-intensity mixers or with another type of mixer, where the mixing is effective and the retention time is sufficient, so that a homogenous mixture of fibres and chelating agent is obtained.
  • the starting pulp was oxygen bleached and of coniferous sulphate type with kappa number 10.1, viscosity 975 dm 3 /t and brightness 43.0% ISO.
  • the bleaching was carried out according to Q(OP) with 10 kg H 2 O 2 /t.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Paper (AREA)
  • Detergent Compositions (AREA)
  • Chemical And Physical Treatments For Wood And The Like (AREA)
  • Hybrid Cells (AREA)
  • Noodles (AREA)

Abstract

A method at chlorine-free bleaching of pulp where metals are removed by means of chelating agent. The chelating agent is mixed with the pulp in at least one effective mixing step without intermediate washing, whereafter the pulp without an intermediate tower passes directly to a pulp washer. The total retention time shall be at maximum 15 minutes, calculated after the chelating agent addition.

Description

This invention relates to the bleaching of chemical pulp with chlorine-free chemicals. The invention, more precisely, refers to a method of pretreating the pulp with chelating agents in combination with the bleaching.
Totally chlorine-free bleaching (TCP) of chemical papermaking pulp has become a success, and the world production of chlorine-free pulp will soon have got up to five million year-tons, which is an exceptional development considering that the bleaching method was introduced less than six years ago. There exist, besides, variants of this theme, where the prebleaching is chlorine-free and the final bleaching is either of ECF (elementary chlorine-free) or TCF (totally chlorine-free) type.
Bleaching is carried out in most cases by treating the papermaking pulp to be bleached with chlorine-free chemicals first with a chelating agent of the type EDTA or DTPA. The chelating agent has the object to remove from the pulp certain metal ions, particularly manganese, copper, iron a.o., which affect the bleaching result negatively, if they remain in the pulp. The chelating agent usually is designated by the letter Q.
The pulp is washed after the Q-step, so that the exposed metal ions are eliminated from the pulp as completely as possible. Thereafter the bleaching takes place, which normally is carried out with hydrogen peroxide, at times in combination with oxygen. Hydrogen peroxide steps are designated with the letter P, and P-steps reinforced with oxygen are designated with OP or PO where the dominating chemical is mentioned first. The thumb rule is that the greater the number of harmful metal ions eliminated from the pulp is, the more effective the subsequent bleaching will be.
A method, at which the pulp is treated in a Q-stage and thereafter bleached in a P-stage, usually is called the "Lignox"-method, which is disclosed, for example, in EP-A-402 335.
The original pulp normally is oxygen delignified to a relatively low kappa number prior to the QP-bleaching. A low kappa number before the bleaching implies that the obtainable maximum bleaching result increases in the subsequent step, and that the bleaching chemical demand is reduced.
In mills, the QP-bleaching most often is carried out in such a way, that the pulp first is passed through a pump, which pumps the pulp suspension through the treatment steps. Thereafter follows a mixer where the chelating agent is added to the pulp. The next step is a bleaching tower, where the pulp without additional agitation slowly passes through and where all remaining reaction takes place. The pulp finally passes to a washing step where the exposed and complexed metal ions are washed out. The freed liquid enriched on metal ions most often is discharged.
The conditions normally applied in a Q-step are a temperature of 70-90°C, a retention time of 1-2 hours, a pulp consistency of 10-14%, a pH of 5-7 and a charge of chelating agent of 1-3 kg per ton pulp. By these conditions a very good metal separation can be achieved, which is necessary if subsequent bleaching is carried out on pulp with low lignin content (the kappa number is below about 5) and if a large amount of hydrogen peroxide is used in the stage (more than 15 kg/t). If, however, the pulp still contains a considerable amount of lignin (kappa number above about 5), and the hydrogen peroxide charge in the subsequent step is limited to about 5-10 kg/t, the demand for a complete metal elimination is less critical. Another case when it is sufficient that less metal is eliminated in the stage, i.e. less than 60% reduction, is for example the case when the metal content before the Q-step is so low in relation to the metal content required after the Q-step. In such positions a somewhat simplified Q-process should, therefore, be possible.
From a strict bleaching point of view, the Q-step per se is an unnecessary treatment step, because no proper bleaching takes place there. The Q-treatment, however, is necessary for a following successful P- or PO-bleaching, as appears from the aforesaid. If the Q-step could be simplified without reducing the effectiveness in the elimination of metals, great savings could be made, because a complete bleaching stage is expensive.
The present invention is directed to a simplification of the Q-step, especially for pulps with kappa number above about 5, and for chelating agent treatments which require less than 60% metal reduction. The simplification implies, that the investment cost decreases in relation to a conventional Q-step.
The invention is based on the surprising observation, that the effectiveness of the Q-step is considerably less affected by increased reaction temperature than by increased retention time. This indicates, according to classical chemical cinetics, that the Q-step is diffusion controlled and not reaction controlled. This means, that the Q-step should be carried out so that the diffusion is facilitated, and if this is made effectively, the total retention time can thereby be reduced substantially.
The characterizing features of the invention are apparent from the attached claims.
The best method to reduce the diffusion resistance is to decrease the diffusion distance for active reactants and released reaction products. On a technical scale this is made by effective mixing, for example in a mixer with long retention time. Thus, by effective mixing, the retention time in the Q-step can be shortened. The number of mixing steps is not critical, but the total mixing time must be above a certain critical level, alternatively at least two mixing apparatuses shall be used. For economic reasons, however, the number of mixing steps must be held on a reasonable level. For a pulp with kappa number above about 5, which shall be bleached further with at maximum about 5-10 kg hydrogen peroxide exclusive possible oxygen, a suitable number of mixing steps is 1-2. The same applies, if the metal reduction to be achieved in the chelating agent step is limited and need not be above 60%.
When two mixing steps are used, a certain retention time between the mixing steps is favourable, but this time need not be long, because the diffusion rate without mixing yet is much slower than what can be achieved by mixing, for example in a mixer. The stay-time between the mixing steps, thus, shall be short, less than 10 minutes and preferably less than 5 minutes. The mixing steps then shall be carried out one after the other without intermediate washing. The washing required for removing the metals from the pulp suspension shall be carried out less than 15 minutes after the last mixing step.
When more than one mixing step is used, the entire charge of chelating agent shall be added in the first mixing step, and subsequent mixing steps bring about only a renewed mixing. To divide the charge in such a way that at maximum one third of the chelating agent charge is added in the last step, however, is not detrimental, if the subsequent mixing is sufficiently effective.
The chelating agent preferably is of the type EDTA (ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid) or DTPA (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid), but also other types of chelating agent can be used, for example NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid) or DTPMP (diethylene triamine pentamythylene phosphoric acid). The total amount of added chelating agent should be 0.5-3 kg per ton pulp (calculated as pure chelating agent), preferably 1-2 kg per ton pulp.
The temperature in the Q-step should be above 75°C, suitably over 80°C and more preferably over 85°C. A preferred temperature interval is 85-110°C. The desired pH interval is pH 5 to pH 11. The pulp consistency should be between 2 and 16%.
An especially effective mixing can be achieved by using high-intensity mixers or with another type of mixer, where the mixing is effective and the retention time is sufficient, so that a homogenous mixture of fibres and chelating agent is obtained.
In the Table below some results from a one-stage Q-treatment are shown, which was carried out with a high-intensity mixer for 3 seconds and with a subsequent retention time without mixing for 40 seconds before the pulp washing, and where the treatment was carried out at 95°C. For comparison, data are also shown from a conventional Q-treatment with conventional lab mixing of chelating agent with the pulp and a subsequent retention time of 60 minutes, where the step was carried out at 90°C.
Experiment:
The starting pulp was oxygen bleached and of coniferous sulphate type with kappa number 10.1, viscosity 975 dm3/t and brightness 43.0% ISO. The bleaching was carried out according to Q(OP) with 10 kg H2O2/t.
Figure 00060001
Figure 00060002
The invention, of course, is not restricted to the embodiments described above, but can be varied within the scope of the patent claims.

Claims (10)

  1. A method at chlorine-free bleaching of pulp where metals are eliminated by means of a chelating agent, the kappa number of the pulp before the chelating stage being above 5 and the desired metal reduction in the chelating stage being less than 60%, wherein the chelating agent is mixed with the pulp, without using a bleaching tower, in at least one effective mixing stage using high-intensity mixers at a pH between 5 and 11, that the pulp is washed less than 15 minutes after the last mixing stage, and that the pulp thereafter is bleached in a chlorine-free bleaching stage.
  2. A method as defined in the preceding claim, characterized in that the kappa number of the pulp before the chelating agent stage is above 5, or that the desired metal reduction in the chelating agent stage is less than 60%.
  3. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire addition of chelating agent amounts to 0.5-3 kg per ton pulp, preferably 1-2 kg per ton pulp.
  4. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the temperature in the chelating agent stage is above 75°C and at maximum 110°C.
  5. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pulp consistency in the chelating agent stage is 2-16%.
  6. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, where at least two mixing stages are used, characterized in that the entire addition of chelating agent is made in the first mixing stage, and that subsequent mixing stages only bring about renewed mixing.
  7. A method as defined in claim 6, characterized in that the chelating agent is added in several mixing stages.
  8. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chelating agent is of the type EDTA or DTPA.
  9. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the chelating agent is of the type NTA or DTPMP.
  10. A method as defined in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the high-intensity mixers break up the fibre network in the pulp and bring about close contact between fibres and the chelating agent.
EP97912616A 1997-01-03 1997-11-06 Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower Expired - Lifetime EP0951599B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9700030A SE508239C2 (en) 1997-01-03 1997-01-03 Treatment of pulp with complexing agents in at least one mixing step, without the use of the bleaching tower
SE9700030 1997-01-03
PCT/SE1997/001853 WO1998029597A1 (en) 1997-01-03 1997-11-06 Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0951599A1 EP0951599A1 (en) 1999-10-27
EP0951599B1 true EP0951599B1 (en) 2003-05-28

Family

ID=20405369

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP97912616A Expired - Lifetime EP0951599B1 (en) 1997-01-03 1997-11-06 Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower

Country Status (16)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0951599B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2001508837A (en)
CN (1) CN1103832C (en)
AT (1) ATE241725T1 (en)
AU (1) AU726599B2 (en)
BR (1) BR9714252A (en)
CA (1) CA2275257A1 (en)
DE (1) DE69722445T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2195123T3 (en)
ID (1) ID20003A (en)
NO (1) NO993290L (en)
NZ (1) NZ336204A (en)
PT (1) PT951599E (en)
SE (1) SE508239C2 (en)
WO (1) WO1998029597A1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA9710418B (en)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101446054B (en) * 2008-12-23 2010-04-14 华南理工大学 Total-chlorine-free bleaching method of paper pulp production line with annual output of more than 50,000 tons

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
SE9201477L (en) * 1992-05-11 1993-06-28 Kamyr Ab SEATING WHITE PILLOW WITHOUT USING CHLORIC CHEMICALS
SE502665C2 (en) * 1993-06-11 1995-12-04 Kvaerner Pulping Tech Methods and reactor for ozone bleaching
SE501836C2 (en) * 1993-09-21 1995-05-22 Sunds Defibrator Ind Ab Bleaching of chemical pulp whereby the pulp is treated with complexing agents before and after an ozone step
SE504803C2 (en) * 1995-08-24 1997-04-28 Sunds Defibrator Ind Ab Treatment of pulp with complexing agents in at least two mixing steps without intermediate washing

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CN101446054B (en) * 2008-12-23 2010-04-14 华南理工大学 Total-chlorine-free bleaching method of paper pulp production line with annual output of more than 50,000 tons

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CN1103832C (en) 2003-03-26
JP2001508837A (en) 2001-07-03
ZA9710418B (en) 1998-06-10
NO993290L (en) 1999-09-02
ID20003A (en) 1998-09-10
CA2275257A1 (en) 1998-07-09
WO1998029597A1 (en) 1998-07-09
ATE241725T1 (en) 2003-06-15
SE9700030D0 (en) 1997-01-03
SE508239C2 (en) 1998-09-21
AU4974197A (en) 1998-07-31
ES2195123T3 (en) 2003-12-01
DE69722445D1 (en) 2003-07-03
EP0951599A1 (en) 1999-10-27
DE69722445T2 (en) 2004-01-15
CN1242060A (en) 2000-01-19
PT951599E (en) 2003-10-31
AU726599B2 (en) 2000-11-16
BR9714252A (en) 2000-04-18
NO993290D0 (en) 1999-07-02
NZ336204A (en) 1999-11-29
SE9700030L (en) 1998-07-04

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
WO1979000637A1 (en) Bleaching lignocellulose material with bleaching agents containing peroxide
FI93232C (en) Method for bleaching pulp with chlorine-free chemicals
EP0951599B1 (en) Treatment of pulp with a chelating agent without using a bleaching tower
AU665461B2 (en) Method of treating process water
EP0846199B1 (en) Treatment of pulp with chelating agent in at least two mixing steps without intermediate washing
WO2007113380A1 (en) Bleaching process of chemical pulp
AU686024B2 (en) Treatment of chemical pulp with a chelating agent and an oxidizing agent in connection with bleaching
CA2149332A1 (en) Method of bleaching pulp
US5205907A (en) Removal of manganese from pulp using a chelating agent and magnesium sulphate
JP3360694B2 (en) Delignification bleaching method of chemical pulp for papermaking.
WO1997008381A1 (en) Method for preventing accumulation of metals in a closed pulp bleaching process
CA2441841C (en) Peroxide bleaching of wood pulp
EP0726980B1 (en) A method of separating metal ions from pulp
WO1998014657A1 (en) Oxidation of disturbing metal ions in bleaching processes
US6375797B1 (en) Bleaching chemical pulp in a PkDQ-Po Sequence
CA2219767A1 (en) Treatment of pulp with chelating agent and subsequent bleaching at a ph value above 9
FI122773B (en) Preparation of pulp
CA2144677A1 (en) Method of tcf or ecf bleaching of cellulose pulp
CA2179700A1 (en) Method and apparatus for treating pulp
SE9604511A0 (en) Process for bleaching kraft pulp in an acidic peroxide step

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PUAI Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012

17P Request for examination filed

Effective date: 19990409

AK Designated contracting states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AT DE ES FI FR PT SE

RAP1 Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred)

Owner name: VALMET FIBERTECH AB

17Q First examination report despatched

Effective date: 20020524

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAH Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOS IGRA

GRAA (expected) grant

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009210

AK Designated contracting states

Designated state(s): AT DE ES FI FR PT SE

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: SE

Ref legal event code: TRGR

REF Corresponds to:

Ref document number: 69722445

Country of ref document: DE

Date of ref document: 20030703

Kind code of ref document: P

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Payment date: 20031030

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Payment date: 20031118

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Payment date: 20031120

Year of fee payment: 7

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Payment date: 20031125

Year of fee payment: 7

ET Fr: translation filed
PLBE No opposition filed within time limit

Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009261

STAA Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent

Free format text: STATUS: NO OPPOSITION FILED WITHIN TIME LIMIT

26N No opposition filed

Effective date: 20040302

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: DE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20040602

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: SE

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20041107

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: ES

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20041108

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Payment date: 20041116

Year of fee payment: 8

PGFP Annual fee paid to national office [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: AT

Payment date: 20041122

Year of fee payment: 8

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: PT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050506

EUG Se: european patent has lapsed
PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FR

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20050729

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: PT

Ref legal event code: MM4A

Effective date: 20050506

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: FR

Ref legal event code: ST

PG25 Lapsed in a contracting state [announced via postgrant information from national office to epo]

Ref country code: FI

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20051106

Ref country code: AT

Free format text: LAPSE BECAUSE OF NON-PAYMENT OF DUE FEES

Effective date: 20051106

REG Reference to a national code

Ref country code: ES

Ref legal event code: FD2A

Effective date: 20041108