The Heikura, Hannu creator Kolehmainen, Heikki Chairperson Nazhad, Mousa M. Examination Committee Ruhanen, Mauno Examination Committee European Commission Scholarship Donor PTS Program Scholarship Donor text series technical report th Bangkok Asian Institute of Technology 2002 continuing eng 77 leaves The aim of this study was to increase the understanding of the future prospects of rice sh·aw pulp from an economic viewpoint. The main cost factors in the production of rice sh·aw pulp were found to be chemical, elech·icity, fuel, raw material and labour costs, which made up for 67% of the total costs. The unit price ofrice straw pulp was found to be € 283/ADt. The maximum proportion of hardwood pulp that could be replaced with rice sh·aw pulp was at least 16%. Here the loss in the drainage, sh·ength and optical prope1ties needed for the production of fine paper grades was still acceptable. These two findings were used for the estimation of the economic viability of rice straw in the case of mixing. Scenarios with different prices for market eucalyptus pulp were combined to the previously described findings. The estimation was made for the hypothetical context of a 400 000 ADt producing fine paper mill with a pipeline connection to the case mill. In the absence of import tariffs for eucalyptus pulp, the savings resulting from the mixing would vary from 4.1 % to 12.7% in the scenarios. Based on the findings the replacement of market eucalyptus pulp can be estimated to be economically viable. The specific characteristics of rice sh·aw should, however, also be taken into consideration when deciding the future use of rice straw pulp. A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Thesis (M.Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2002 Pulp mills Costs Asian Institute of Technology. http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B07365 http://203.159.5.9/ait-thesis/detail.php?q=B07365 030124 20260818085324.0