BioMatNet Item: AIR2-CT92-1499 - Wood chemistry applied to the manufacture of paper pulp

AIR2-CT92-1499
Wood chemistry applied to the manufacture of paper pulp

To find similar Items, click on a keyword below:
AIR Cluster VII - Forestry and Forest Products : Biopolymers/Gums : Paper/Pulp : Process Engineering : Pulping : Wood (Lignocellulose)

	Contract No	AIR2-CT92-1499
	Total Cost	710 000
	EC Contribution	397 600
	Start Date	01/01/1993
	Duration	36 months

Objectives

Centre Technique du Papier (CTP), Ecole Francaise de Papeterie (EFPG), the Swedish Pulp and Paper Research Institute (STFI), the Royal Institute of Technology (KTH), the Finnish Pulp and Paper Research Institute (KCL) and the Paper Institute in Munich (PTS) are the major organization of cooperative R and D for pulp and paper in Europe.

They are all actively involved in research activities devoted to the development of alternative pulping and bleaching processes.

They have all given a major emphasis on the potential input of wood chemistry in these projects and they possess the worlds key people in this field. In front of the new challenge met by the pulp and paper industry, i.e.

need for cleaner processes in pulping and bleaching
need for new chemical pulping processes with lower investment cost
need for mechanical pulps of higher quality

they consider it necessary to develop cooperation between their wood chemistry groups to fasten the discovery of acceptable technical answers and lead the change to cleaner and lighter technologies worldwide.

The general objectives of this Concerted Action were to:

identify issues in wood chemistry which are of strategic importance for the European Pulp and Paper Industry
to direct as much as possible the research institutes R and D efforts towards these subjects
to establish a wider ranging European network in wood chemistry including research groups in Southern Europe (Spain, Portugal) and in Eastern European Countries
to produce reports on the state of the art on important issues in wood chemistry
to produce specific reports and conference proceedings.

Activities:
The issues in wood chemistry that are of strategic importance for the Pulp and Paper Industries in Europe have been identified during meetings which took place during the first year of the concerted action. In the next year a 'state of the art' report was produced with the responsibility for the text being taken by one of the partners. Discussion on the drafts took place during the final concertation meeting in July 1997. As a result the following reports are available:

Basic Chemistry in Pulping and Bleaching Processes, by D. Lachenal. This report describes the key issues in pulp manufacture and presents the areas which need an increased research effort.
Structure of Wood and Wood Components, by B. Holtling and T. Tamminen from KCL This report gives the state-of-the-art on the methods for characterisation of the wood components including novel analytical techniques that have been developed recently, that should increase knowledge of the chemical structure of the components considerably. This knowledge is essential to optimise the pulping and bleaching processes and to develop the desired pulp properties.
Applicability of Standard Methods of Pulp Characterization to New Types of Pulp, by T. Iversen from STFI. During the last decade new pulping and bleaching processes have developed. This report shows that several standard testing methods of pulp Characterization are in fact inappropriate for new types of pulp and presents the necessary modifications that have been proposed recently by various research groups.
Catalysts and Promotors in Pulping and Bleaching, by G. Gellerstedt from KTH. In this report emphasis is put on additives (catalysts or promoters), which are thought to be of importance in order to improve the process of making bleached pulp, to make it less capital intensive and more easily closed.
Upgrading of Fibres by Chemical Means, by G. Fiehn from PTS. A state-of-the-art on the potential of fibre upgrading by chemical means is given in this report which presents a broad review on what has already been done and what could be done in future in this promising area.

In addition an overview report entitled Basic Chemistry in Pulping and Beaching Processes - Knowledge Gaps, was presented at an EU Conference in Stockholm on October 1996. This report focuses on the key issues in the wood chemistry sector as defined by the partners and details the research needs. A third workshop was organised the final year on Chemistry influencing fibre structure and properties, attracting. About 80 participants, including representatives from 5 pulp mills.

These workshops aimed to promote exchanges among European wood chemistry scientists and to give graduate students a forum where they could share their views. In this respect the workshops were very successful with 30 students having attended at least one. Abstracts of the 18 papers presented at the last workshop are available. Another major achievement of the CA was to develop short period exchanges of personnel, both between the partners and with other European laboratories, mainly in Spain, Portugal and Eastern European countries, with 7 placements during the last year. The aim is to improve the dissemination of analytical techniques throughout Europe and to enable young scientists to make international contacts. The CA also played a key role in the organisation of the fourth European Workshop on lignocellulosics and Pulps (EWLP) held in Italy ( September 1996), which attracted some 150 wood chemists from Europe , the US, Canada, Japan and Brazil. The concerted action also contributed financially to publication of the proceedings and to travel costs of 7 scientists from Eastern European countries. Once again stimulating the creation of a true European network in wood chemistry.

Conclusion:
This Concerted Action has played a major role in increasing links, not only between the partners, but also between most of the European groups active in wood chemistry. It has enabled organisation of workshops and conferences where key issues have been discussed and new analytical tools described, with an active participation of young scientists. Opportunity was offered to scientists from Eastern European countries to attend some of these events. Exchange of students and scientists for short periods should have a positive impact on their research work and create essential international contacts. As indicated above a number of state of the art reviews were prepared, in addition to which the partners contributed more than 80 original scientific papers at the various meetings organised or sponsored by the CA. At the final concertation meeting it was decided to continue with the organisation of seminars covering the progress made in areas of particular importance in wood chemistry, preferably in conjuction with major international conferences and workshops. A workshop entitled, Chemistry influencing fibre structure and properties, was held February 1997, covering the use of modern methods for analysing the structure of fibres (ESCA, inverse paper chromatography, mass spectroscopy), the behaviour of fibre components during kraft pulping or TCF bleaching, and the modification of recycled pulp fibres by chemical means.

Contacts

Coordinator

Prof Dominique LACHENAL / Centre Technique de l'Industrie des Papiers, Cartons et Celluloses / FRANCE

EC Scientific Officer

Ignacio SEOANE / European Commission DG Research Theme 1 Key Action 5.3 / BELGIUM

Participant