Pulp Industry Research Articles

Acetylated lignin as a biocomponent for epoxy coating — Anticorrosive performance analysis by accelerated corrosion tests

Carbon steel is one of the main metallic materials used in the manufacture of products in various sectors of society. The high susceptibility of this material to the corrosive process makes it necessary to use mechanisms to protect it from corrosion, with the use of epoxy coatings being one of the main methods. However, in harsh environments, the anticorrosive ability of epoxy coatings weakens. Therefore, there is a growing number of studies of compounds to be used as additives in the development of anticorrosive coatings. This work uses Kraft lignin, a waste from the pulp and paper industry, as a bio-additive for epoxy resins to be used in the corrosion protection of carbon steel when exposed to severe corrosion environments. For this, accelerated corrosion tests of salt spray, ultraviolet weathering, and saturated humidity were carried out. The epoxy-lignin coatings were obtained by incorporating acetylated lignin (AKL) in the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A resin (DGEBA). The curing agent for the coatings was isophorone diamine (IPDA). Two types of epoxy-lignin coatings were prepared, namely: DGEBA/7.5% AKL, and DGEBA/15%AKL. The structural characterization of the coatings was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The physicochemical properties of the coatings were analyzed by testing contact angle, gel content, water vapor transmission, and ion permeation. The anticorrosive properties of the coatings were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The performance of coatings with acetylated lignin was compared with the epoxy coating without acetylated lignin and the corrosion protection mechanism of epoxy-lignin coatings was proposed. The results indicate that the addition of acetylated lignin improves the resistance of the coatings against corrosion, as demonstrated by higher impedance values and capacitive behavior in the accelerated corrosion tests. Additionally, the coatings with acetylated lignin exhibit better performance in blocking the migration of Na+ and Cl− ions, further slowing down the corrosion process.

Development of biodegradable tableware from novel combination of paddy straw and pine needles: A potential alternative against plastic cutlery

Plastic cutlery for food packaging and serving has long been in trend due to its versatile properties but accumulation of the single use plastic cutlery creates disposal problem due to its non-biodegradability. The two biomasses paddy straw and pine needles are known to cause serious problems of stubble burning and forest fires respectively. However, these two biomasses hold tremendous potential to be used as raw material in pulp industry due to their high holocellulose and cellulose content which can be further enhanced after pre-treatments. This study aims to use a combination of two biomasses in a ratio of 1:1 and further process it to derive pulp by employing enzymes such as laccase, manganese peroxidase, and lignin peroxidase for lignin removal by fermentation mechanism. After sufficient lignin removal, the processed beaten pulp was casted into cups and bowls. Binding agents such as carboxymethyl cellulose, gum acacia and potato starch along with cross-linking polymer were blended with pulp in binding matrix to cast durable and non-brittle biodegradable cups. PLA (bio-plastic) polymer was applied in the form of a thin film over the developed tableware. The developed tableware was further verified for anti-microbial properties by testing it with common food-poisoning pathogens. Mechanical stiffness and rigidity were estimated along with thermal stability examined over a wide temperature range by dynamic scanning colorimetric (DSC). Lattice structure and morphology was studied by SEM and XRD analyses. Based on the analytical analyses, the developed biodegradable tableware can be a suitable alternative to combat plastic cutlery menace.

Extraction and Physicochemical and Thermomechanical Characterizations of Water Hyacinth Fibers Eichhornia crassipes

The presence of floating plants is becoming an uncontrollable issue on the banks of Douala, Cameroon, notably in the city of Bonaberi, where the water hyacinth is expanding incredibly quickly. The aim of this study is to evaluate the mechanical and physicochemical performance of water hyacinth fibers for pulp manufacture. To this end, tensile tests on fiber bundles in accordance with ISO 13934-1:2013, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), chemical composition evaluation in accordance with ASTM 1972 and 1977, and absorption rate were carried out. The results obtained indicate that the fiber is composed of a variety of fibrils with irregular cross-sections, with an average diameter ranging from 0.02 to 0.09 mm. The fibers absorb 42.03% of their weight in water, and their density ranges from 1.23 to 1.45 g/cm3. According to mechanical tests, the fiber has a maximum tensile strength of around 0.64 MPa, a specific modulus of 6.45 MPa/g/cm3, and an elongation at break of 1.8%. For the chemical characteristics of the fiber, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents are 68.3%, 11.3%, and 7.4%, respectively, while pectin and ash content concentrations are 4.8% and 7.8%, respectively. Thus, in order to determine whether the plant is suitable for making pulp and paper, this investigation was conducted to examine its fiber properties. It was found that the water hyacinth fibers were superior to flax straw and jute fibers in all qualities, but not as good as silk cotton and bagasse fibers. Given the information above, water hyacinth has been recognized as a potential raw material for the pulp and paper industries, though.

Electrocoagulation technique and statistical analysis for treatment of real effluent from the pulp and paper industry

The electrochemical treatment of Organic Pollutants is a promising technique for substances with biodegradability resistance. In this research, the black liquor effluent originating from the Rakta Paper and Paper Company's mill, which employs rice straw as a raw material for paper fiber production, was subjected to treatment using the electrocoagulation method utilizing monopolar aluminum electrodes. The experiments were carried out using a 2.5 L electrochemical cell equipped with monopolar aluminum electrodes connected in parallel. The study examined the impact of operating parameters such as initial pH, current density, number of plates and electrolyte concentration on percentage removal and power consumption. The results revealed a positive correlation between the percentage of color removal and the duration of electrolysis, current density, sodium chloride concentration, and the number of electrodes used. The maximum color removal was observed at initial solution pH 6.5, experimental time 120 min, current density 61.8 A m−2, initial NaCl solution concentration 2 g L−1 and six aluminum plates. The statistical and mathematical data based on experimental results were analyzed using the central composite design from response surface methodology (RSM). The quadratic model is deemed appropriate owing to its substantial coefficient of determination (R2 = 0.99) and statistically significant p-value (≤ 0.0002), suggesting the model's significance. The experimental results indicate that the utilization of electrocoagulation as a treatment method for paper mill effluents has demonstrated superior efficacy compared to the adsorption technique.

Sonochemical synthesis of lignin nanoparticles and their applications in poly (vinyl) alcohol composites

Lignin is a common and abundant byproduct of the pulp and paper industry and is generally burned to produce steam. Opportunities exist to acquire greater value from lignin by leveraging the properties of this highly conjugated biomacromolecule for applications in UV absorption and polymer reinforcement. These applications can be commercialized by producing value-added lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) using a scalable sonochemical process. In the present research, monodisperse LNPs have been synthesized by subjecting aqueous dispersions of alkali lignin to acoustic irradiation. The resulting particle size distribution and colloidal stability, as determined by dynamic light scattering, transmission electron microscopy and zeta potential analysis, of LNPs can be adjusted by varying the solution pH and ultrasonication energy. As-synthesized LNPs with a mean diameter of 204 nm were incorporated into poly (vinyl) alcohol (PVA) to prepare thin and flexible nanocomposite films using a simple solvent casting method. The addition of 2.5 wt% LNP increased the material's Sun Protection Factor up to 26 compared to 0 for neat PVA, while maintaining light transmission above 75 % in the visible spectra. In addition, the tensile strength and elastic modulus of the PVA nanocomposites improved by 47 % and 36 %, respectively. The presence of LNP also enhanced the thermal stability of the materials. Significantly, the proposed sonochemical process may be generally applicable to the synthesis of a range of naturally-derived LNPs for a variety of value-added applications.

Wet refining: A novel approach for modification of wheat bran fiber

To address the poor physiochemical and functional properties a novel wet refining (using Valley Beater) treatment was adopted for modification of wheat bran fiber. Valley Beater, which is valuable equipment in the pulp and paper industry to improve fiber properties, was optimized for wheat bran using response surface methodology. The obtained modified bran fiber was further compared, separately and in combination with the moist heat modified wheat bran. The effect of modifications was accessed in terms of physiochemical, functional, morphological, structural, and antioxidant properties. Particle size, SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy, and XRD analysis depicted the successful modification effects with a good explanation of different improved properties. The wet refining process significantly improved the bran fiber water absorption, oil absorption, water swelling, and sedimentation properties along with increasing the fines content. Although, the moist heat modification showed a positive effect on soluble dietary fiber, and glucose absorption capacity. Still, the wet refining modification was found to ameliorate bran fiber antioxidant properties such as total phenolic content, DPPH scavenging capacity, and total reducing power. Categorically, the combined (wet refining followed by moist heating) modification process was most suitable with more desirable effects. Our research manifested that the wet refining process in combination with moist heat treatment can be used to improve nutritional and product-making characteristics of wheat bran fiber and thus can be adopted for preparing high-fiber food products.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Dea Contributions to Energy Efficiency in the Pulp and Paper Industry

Objective: This article aims to analyze energy efficiency in the pulp and paper sector using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). Theoretical framework: The concern for sustainability has been a topic of discussion across the planet. Compliance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) stipulated by the 2030 Agenda has been a goal for organizations. In this sense, the pulp and paper industries stand out, as they stand out for their considerable participation in the impact on the environment. Methodology: As a methodology, bibliometric research was used to determine the number of publications, citations, authors and countries involved in energy efficiency research. Results and conclusion: The results showed that China leads the field with the highest number of publications and citations, followed by the United States. In addition, the authors with the most significant impact factor are of Chinese origin, with the Journal of Cleaner Production being the main source of publication of these critical studies. Research implications: These findings demonstrate the growing interest in energy efficiency research, highlighting the need to meet the planet's energy needs as quickly as possible. Originality/value: The results of this bibliometric analysis provided valuable insight into the current state of research and publications related to Energy Efficiency measured with DEA ​​in the pulp and paper industries worldwide. Further exploratory analyzes and content analyzes are suggested to identify areas of research that have been neglected and provide new insights for future research.

The Cost to Consumers of Carbon Capture and Storage—A Product Value Chain Analysis

High-cost abatement measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions in the basic commodity industry is known to result in substantial increases in the production costs. Consequently, investments in such measures are lagging behind what is required to make deep emission cuts in line with the Paris Agreement. As high-cost abatement measures (such as Carbon Capture and Storage; CCS) are perceived as expensive for the basic commodity producer, this study investigates the impacts down-stream of the product value chain when assuming full cost pass-through (i.e., the cost increase related to basic commodity production is fully passed on down-stream of the product chain to the end-consumer). We investigate the effects on both costs, by means of a techno-economic assessment, and carbon footprints, using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), along the product value chain for the case of post-combustion CCS applied to the cement, pulp, Waste-to-Energy (WtE), and refinery industries, towards abating fossil- and process-related emissions and generating negative emissions. Here, we analyse the product value chains that involve cement to a high-speed railway, pulp to a disposable baby diaper, WtE in connection with housing and plastic products, and refineries to different transportation solutions (truck transport and air-freight). The results show that even though the costs for producing basic commodities can increase significantly (200% for cement, 75% for pulp, 230% for heat, and 6–37% for refinery products) when implementing CCS, the increases in prices for end-users are marginal (1% for the railway, 3% for the disposable baby diaper, 1% for the housing, 0.4% for truck transport and 2% for air-freight). Simultaneously, the carbon footprint associated with the end-use may be reduced by up to 36% for the railway, 31% for the diaper, 80% for the housing, and 3–23% for the refinery cases.

Admissibility Grid to Support the Decision for the Preferential Routing of Portuguese Endogenous Waste Biomass for the Production of Biogas, Advanced Biofuels, Electricity and Heat

A methodology was developed to assess the allocation of different types of endogenous waste biomass to eight technologies for producing electricity, heat, biogas and advanced biofuels. It was based on the identification of key physicochemical parameters for each conversion process and the definition of limit values for each parameter, applied to two different matrices of waste biomass. This enabled the creation of one Admissibility Grid with target values per type of waste biomass and conversion technology, applicable to a decision process in the routing to energy production. The construction of the grid was based on the evaluation of 24 types of waste biomass, corresponding to 48 sets of samples tested, for which a detailed physicochemical characterization and an admissibility assessment were made. The samples were collected from Municipal Solid Waste treatment facilities, sewage sludges, agro-industrial companies, poultry farms, and pulp and paper industries. The conversion technologies and energy products considered were (trans)esterification to fatty acid methyl esters, anaerobic digestion to methane, fermentation to bioethanol, dark fermentation to biohydrogen, combustion to electricity and heat, gasification to syngas, and pyrolysis and hydrothermal liquefaction to bio-oils. The validation of the Admissibility Grid was based on the determination of conversion rates and product yields over 23 case studies that were selected according to the best combinations of waste biomass type versus technological solution and energy product.

Enhancing methane production from anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge through lignosulfonate addition: Feasibility, mechanisms, and implications

This study explores the feasibility of using lignosulfonate, a byproduct of the pulp and paper industry, to facilitate sludge anaerobic digestion. Biochemical methane potential assays revealed that the maximum methane production was achieved at 60 mg/g volatile solids (VS) lignosulfonate, 22.18 % higher than the control. One substrate model demonstrated that 60 mg/g VS lignosulfonate boosted the hydrolysis rate, biochemical methane potential, and degradation extent of secondary sludge by 19.12 %, 21.87 %, and 21.11 %, respectively, compared to the control. Mechanisms unveiled that lignosulfonate destroyed sludge stability, promoted organic matter release, and enhanced subsequent hydrolysis, acidification, and methanogenesis by up to 31.30 %, 74.42 % and 28.16 %, respectively. Phytotoxicity assays confirmed that lignosulfonate promoted seed germination and root development of lettuce and Chinese cabbage, with seed germination index reaching 170 ± 10 % and 220 ± 22 %, respectively. The findings suggest that lignosulfonate addition offers a sustainable approach to sludge treatment, guiding effective management practices.

Desulfurized and Hydrogenated Crude Sulfate Turpentine (HCST): A Biofuel Derived from a Waste of the Pulp and Paper Industries

Desulfurized and Hydrogenated Crude Sulfate Turpentine (HCST): A Biofuel Derived from a Waste of the Pulp and Paper Industries

Holistic assessment of Brazil's bioenergetic potential

AbstractThere is an urgent need for energy sources with lower environmental impacts to dispose of waste generated by human activities. In this context, a holistic analysis of energy use of waste from agricultural and forestry activities, animal excreta, urban solid waste and sewage, waste from the pulp and paper industry and charcoal in Brazil is presented. Based on a bibliographic review, the current Brazilian panorama is presented in figures giving, a vision of national potential for harnessing bioenergy from this theoretical and technical potential. The QGIS3.24.2 Tisler geoprocessing tool was used to generate potentiality maps from census data of microregions and municipalities available in the IBGE database (2022) and in the Geocentric Reference System for the Americas (SIRGAS 2000). The results of map analysis by micro‐regions of the primary energy from agricultural residues highlight sugar cane, corn and soybeans crops, followed by wastewater and animal excreta. They stood out amont the studied sources of biomass with technical potentials of 53.17, 15.23 and 6.81 GW, respectively. With these results, it is concluded that Brazil could enable around 75 GW installed power, reusing all biomass, potentially 12.5 PJ, without considering the 16 GW already installed from sugarcane and paper black liquor plants.

Fed-batch SSF with pre-saccharification as a strategy to reduce enzyme dosage in cellulosic ethanol production

The pulp and paper industry is a strategic sector to be converted into a forest-based biorefinery, taking advantage of know-how, existing infrastructures and well-established logistic operations to deal with a daily high volume of forest residues. Bioethanol production from Eucalyptus globulus bark previously pretreated by kraft pulping was assessed following two configurations at the bioreactor scale: separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF). This last configuration was optimized by using a pre-saccharification and a fed-batch feeding (FB PS-SSF), allowing for a reduction in the enzyme dosage from 25 to 10 FPU gCH−1, which is very advantageous from an economic point of view. For 10 FPU gCH−1 enzyme dosage and 20 % (w/v) total solids loading, an ethanol concentration of around 70.6 g L−1 was accomplished, corresponding to overall conversion efficiency and productivity of about 78 % and 1.35 g L−1 h−1, respectively. Increasing solids loading from 20 to 26 % (w/v), using the same enzyme dosage, resulted in the highest ethanol concentration (84.6 g L−1) despite the too-long assay and the decline in productivity. Overall, FB PS-SSF improved bioethanol concentration and allowed decreased enzymatic usage over SHF, maintaining high ethanol concentration.

Production and characterization of novel thermostable CotA-laccase from Bacillus altitudinis SL7 and its application for lignin degradation

Laccases are multi-copper oxidases and found in ligninolytic bacteria catalyzing the oxidation of both phenolic and non-phenolic compounds, however its application in lignin degradation suffers due to low oxidation rate, which have intensified the search for new laccases. In the present study, spore coat A protein (CotA) encoding gene having laccase like activity from Bacillus altitudinis SL7 (CotA-SL7) was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The purified CotA-SL7 was active at wide range of temperature and pH with optimum activity at 55 °C and pH 5.0. The kinetic parameters of CotA-SL7 was determined with Km, Vmax, and kcat values 0.4 mM, 2777 μmol/min/mg, and 5194 s−1, respectively. Molecular docking revealed the presence of Pro, Phe, Asp, Asn, His, and Ile residues at the active site taking part in the oxidation of ABTS. The purified CotA-SL7 reduced lignin contents by 31 % and changes in lignin structure were analyzed through fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microsscopy (SEM) and gas chromatography mass-spectrometry (GC-MS). The appearance of low molecular size compounds clearly indicates the cleavage of lignin polymer and opening of the benzene ring by purified CotA-SL7. Thus, high catalytic efficiency of CotA-SL7 makes it a suitable bio-catalyst for remediation of lignin contaminated wastewater from pulp and paper industries with clear insights into lignin degradation at molecular level.

Industrial wastewater in the context of European Union water reuse legislation and goals

Water pollution and freshwater scarcity are growing problems not only in Europe but all over the world. Water reuse contributes significantly to water sustainability and brings many environmental, economic, and social benefits. The European Union (EU) has recently been addressing water-related problems with great commitment. Unfortunately, the total production of wastewater in the European Union is unknown. The situation in the EU is not satisfactory, as only 2.5% of treated wastewater is reused. The first contribution of this study is the estimation of the total amount of wastewater produced annually in the EU. It is estimated that half of this amount comes from industry, namely over 25,500 million m3. Therefore, this study aims to review and analyze the current state of the industrial wastewater (IWW) issue in the EU and to put it in the context of current EU legislation, targets, and water reuse policy. Moreover, since water reuse technologies are energy intensive, the focus is given to the techno-economic impact of IWW reuse. The energy consumption and investment costs in relation to the amount of water treated have been determined for filtration only, minimum liquid discharge (MLD), and zero liquid discharge (ZLD) systems. Reclaiming 80% of IWW would increase industrial energy consumption by only 4.1%, and investment costs would amount to only 1.5% of the EU GDP. Further, the assessment was focused on the paper & pulp industry, which is among the largest wastewater producers. Implementing efficient water reuse technology in this industry could mean up to 3,449 Mm3/year of reclaimed water.

Employee Retention Improvement of Pulp and Paper Companies in Indonesia

Indonesia is the largest pulp and paper producer in Southeast Asia. One of the problems faced by the pulp and paper industry in Indonesia is high employee turnover. This study aims to analyze the factors that influence employee turnover and propose strategies to reduce turnover or increase employee retention in the pulp and paper industry. The endogenous variable in this study is turnover intention. Meanwhile, exogenous variables are work environment, compensation and benefits, training and development, performance appraisal, employee recognition, and job satisfaction. Research data was obtained through a survey of pulp and paper employees in Indonesia. The data was then analyzed using the partial least square structural equation model (PLS-SEM). The study results show that performance appraisal, training and development, work environment, and employee recognition affect employee turnover negatively and significantly. The strategies proposed to reduce turnover in the pulp and paper industry in Indonesia include the company providing free training according to the competencies needed, making bureaucratic rules simple and transparent, arranging gifts and awards programs for employee achievements, and creating measurable and transparent promotion programs.

Recent Advancements in Lignin Valorization, Bioengineering, Catalysis and Biorefining

Most of the research studies in the field of lignin valorization has been achieved on lignin from paper and pulp industries. The key merit of utilizing lignin from the facilities is that resources are already centralized, and the costs of transportation to further process are fundamentally less compared to possible sources. Biomass composed of lignin, hemicelluloses, and cellulose (also known as lignocellulosic biomass) is both plentiful and renewable. The three polymer groups may be isolated and chemically transformed to provide a wide variety of bio-generated value-added materials, chemical, and fuels. To maximize the value of the biomass feedstock as a whole, it is best to extract these products via a streamlined, integrated models of pathways concerned with catalytic reactions i.e., bio-refinery. In this article, upstream processing is analyzed in depth, including the phenylpropanoid route, bioengineered lignins, and lignin bioengineering. The last section addresses the difficulties inherent in lignin bioengineering from a technical and practical standpoint.

Reclaimed lignosulfonate-modified bamboo fibers prepared via layer-by-layer self-assembly to reinforce poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) biocomposite

Fiber-reinforced poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) biocomposites have been increasingly applied in various fields, such as building structures, interior decorations, and product packaging, due to their high strength to weight ratios, low thermal conductivities, low carbon footprints, and biodegradabilities. However, poor compatibility between the hydrophilic natural fibers and the thermoplastic biocomposites limits their mechanical strengths. This work proposes a method based on layer-by-layer self-assembly (LbL) to improve the interfacial compatibility between the PHB and bamboo fibers (BFs). Sodium lignosulfonate (SL) derived from pulp and paper industry waste was used as the raw material. Then, long carbon chains were introduced into the SL via the Mannich reaction. A hydrophobic self-assembled multilayer structure (SMS) was constructed on the surfaces of the BFs. The preparation process was environmentally friendly, controllable and simple. The mechanical properties were improved by the modifications, including the tensile strength (44%), flexural strength (13%), and impact strength (41%). The thermal properties of the fiber-reinforced biocomposites were also enhanced. This study presents a novel strategy for high-value utilization of industrial byproducts and the enhancement of biocomposite interfacial compatibility.

A Spatial Equilibrium Problem for the European Pulp and Paper Industry Under the Emission Trading System

AbstractWe propose a spatial equilibrium problem for a pulp and paper supply chain network under the Emission Trading System (ETS) and the circular economy principles. The developed closed-loop supply chain model, based on the variational inequality theory, accounts for the forest deployment and the production of paper using both virgin pulp and recyclable paper waste in an area that is subject to the ETS. In addition, it considers the exchanges of virgin pulp, paper, recyclable and not-recyclable paper waste between this regulated area and geographical zones where no environmental policies apply. The aim of this paper is to investigate the ETS impacts on the pulp and paper industries located in an environmentally regulated area in terms of operating costs, production and trading volumes of the aforementioned commodities, and emissions generated. The case study focuses on the European pulp and paper companies, which are among the energy-intensive industries deemed to be exposed to the carbon leakage risk as a consequence of the ETS application. Sensitivity analyses on the carbon price value and on the trade flexibility are conducted. Our results show that the ETS implies additional costs for the European pulp and paper companies and induces them to resort more on imports of virgin pulp and paper from not-regulated zones.

Russian pulp and paper industry: In search of new points of growth

Aim. To analyze the potential and directions of development of the Russian pulp and paper industry taking into account the historical retrospective and international comparisons.Tasks. To analyze the historical retrospective of the dynamics of pulp and paper production volumes in Russia taking into account the spatial distribution of the industry’s production capacities; to assess the potential for growth of domestic demand for the pulp and paper industry products on the basis of international comparisons.Methods. The research was carried out by means of system analysis of the industry development on the basis of statistical reconstructions and international comparisons.Results. The Russian pulp and paper industry for thirty years after the collapse of the USSR overcame the transformation crisis and returned to the peak production volumes, bringing the technological level and the nomenclature of products to the level of the leading countries. As a result of transformations, there was an excessive concentration of the sector’s production capacities in the European part of the country, which in modern conditions leads to difficulties in marketing export-oriented products. The gap in the levels of per capita consumption of certain types of paper and paperboard products in Russia compared to the leading forestry countries indicates the possibility of further growth of domestic demand for the sector’s products.Conclusions. The growth of pulp and paper industry production volumes can be associated with the growth of the domestic market, which will require the outstripping growth of the population’s income.