Abstract of paper presented in Asian Paper 2012 Conference at Bangkok (25-27^th April 2012) by Dr. Mahendra Patel

Micro and Nanotechnology in Formation and Control of Harsh Environments

Dr. Mahendra Patel,

Abstract

Nanotechnology has been eugenic in unveiling astounding scientific information at the molecular level, which is being translated for making miraculous technological innovations by industries. It has high potential of applications in the pulp and paper manufacturing processes. The process mechanisms and reaction kinetics involved in paper manufacturing can be explained in terms of micro and nano technology. This paper is intended to take forward the micro and technologies to the operational areas and to enhance recycling of water and fibre amidst harsh environments. A mechanism for the commencement of corrosion through a nano phenomenon has been delineated here. Solutions to harsh environments with recourse to chemical and biochemical routes, have been explained to be accomplished following to nano concepts.

Researchers from Luleå University of Technology, Sweden, have succeeded in recycling cellulose sludge for production of cellulose nanofibres, and have now proven it to be an economic and environmental success. The yield of the manufacture of cellulose nanofibres from the sludge is 95%, compared with cellulose nanofiber production from wood chips 48%, lignin residues 48%, carrot residues of 20%, barley 14% and grass 13%. Cellulose nano-fibers, manufactured from this sludge, are probably shorter than the cellulose  nanofibers made from pulp but are finer and can form dense films with excellent barrier properties.

The design of silicon nitride reinforced by silicon nitride (SiC) nanoparticles is attractive due to its improved high-temperature strength and resistance to oxidation. The high-temperature mechanical behaviors of these composites are difficult to be investigated because it is hard to measure these structural changes in the mechanical test. In this paper, we applied the molecular dynamics simulations to study the effects of size and quantity of SiC clusters on mechanical properties of silicon nitride-based composites. The results show the model with a SiC diameter of 2.4 nm has the largest stress and Young’s modulus, and the stress and Young’s modulus tend to be smaller when the quantity of SiC clusters increases. With an increasing temperature, the Young’s modulus of the structure with the largest clusters decreases before 1300 K and then jumps to 97 GPa at 1500 K, both the loss and jump in Young modulus is related to the interfacial effects between matrix and clusters.(Source: Journal of Composite Materials, February 22, 2012).

UPM, one of the well-known paper manufacturing Company in Finland, is set to build a 100,000 t biofuel refinery at its Finnish Kaukas site in Lappeenranta. This will be the first biorefinery in the world producing biodiesel from crude tall oil on an industrial-scale. Construction work is said to begin in summer 2012 and is scheduled for completion in 2014. The total investment value amounts to €150m. The Lappeenranta refinery will produce biodiesel for transport use. The significant part of raw materials supply is guaranteed by UPM’s pulp mills in Finland. Tall oil is a by-product of wood pulp used in pulping process, which means no additional harvesting is needed for biofuel production. UPM eyes another biorefinery to be erected either at Rauma in Finland or at the Stracel site in France. Here, energy wood is to be processed to biofuel.

ABB recently introduced the new Weight xP extended profiling actuators, which help paper manufacturers achieve the lowest possible Cross Direction variability and reduce production costs. The new Weight xP actuators help papermakers meet even the most exacting product specifications. With the new Weight xP's technology, paper mills can achieve faster recovery from grade changes and process upsets that they need to keep productivity at high levels.

The Weight xP family of actuators includes the Slice xP, Dilution xP and Coat Weight xP systems which are designed based on ABB's experience in applying actuators on more than 25 different manufacturers of head boxes and coaters. The actuators feature patented and patent-pending technology that eliminate the dependence on a physical position sensor and allow the actuators to achieve their new position in one continuous and fast movement, reducing the time needed to make control actions.

In addition, the patented power management scheme allows simultaneous movement of actuators at all times even during flush cycles, global set point changes, or even if one power supply has failed, providing papermakers with the ultimate in reliability.
Slice xP, Coat Weight xP and Dilution xP each offer advanced diagnostics for easy troubleshooting and increased system availability, as well as built-in monitoring of over 60 different parameters, to predict an impending actuator failure long before it occurs

Bioenergy Company ZeaChem has been awarded a $232.5 million (€176 million) loan guarantee from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) to build a biorefinery that will convert biomass into sustainable fuels and chemicals. It will be the company’s first commercial size cellulosic biorefinery and will use woody biomass and agricultural residues to produce bio-based fuels. The commercial facility is projected to utilise 650 bone dry tonnes of biomass per day, about 225,000 tonnes per year. This is the total feedstock demand for woody biomass (dedicated crop) and wheat straw (supplemental). At the demonstration plant, core operations have already begun and the project which allows for cellulosic ethanol to be produced should be finished this year.

Scientists from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Sustainable Bioenergy Centre (BSBEC) have uncovered a series of genes which could help grasses being breed with better characteristics for bioenergy production. The genes help to better develop the wood part of the grass, called the fibrous, such as what is in rice and wheat. In understanding how these genes operate, the scientists hope to be able to discover how to breed crops so that they need less energy to turn them into biofuel. Most of the energy in the plants is stored in the woody part but it is difficult to access this energy. However, the researchers discovered that they could create multi-use crops where the straw could be used to create energy more efficiently.

They say that this is essential in order to create energy in a sustainable manner without competing with food. Unlike starchy grains, the energy stored in the woody parts of plants is locked away and difficult to get at. Just as cows have to chew the cud and need a stomach with four compartments to extract enough energy from grass, we need to use energy-intensive mechanical and chemical processing to produce biofuel from straw. What we hope to do with this research is to produce varieties of plants where the woody parts yield their energy much more readily - but without compromising the structure of the plant. We think that one way to do this might be to modify the genes that are involved in the formation of a molecule called xylan - a crucial structural component of plants. It is this xylan that makes up the wall that surrounds the plants’ cells, holding molecules in place so that the plant stays tough. It is this that needs to be broken down in order to access the energy more efficiently.

However, grasses have a different type of xylan when compared to other plants and the scientists wanted to discover what this difference was. They searched for the genes that were switched on more readily in grasses and found the gene family in wheat and rice, which was called GT61, which they could use to give the grass a form of xylan. (Source: www.bioenergy-news.com)

CelluForce has officially inaugurated a Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC) demonstration plant, at the Domtar pulp and paper mill site in Windsor, Quebec. The company says it is the world's first NCC plant, and will focus on developing commercial applications for the nanomaterial. NCC is an advanced material derived from wood fibre that improves the strength, durability and toughness of products. It can reduce damage caused by wear, abrasion and light. The high-value nanomaterial can also be incorporated into systems to make light reflective structures (tunable from ultraviolet to infrared), impermeable to gas and stable over time. It is also renewable, recyclable, compostable and bio-degradable.

CelluForce is ramping up production of NCC with a target of reaching 1 metric ton per day production rate in 2012. Trials integrating NCC into the manufacturing process of different products are currently taking place through technical collaboration agreements between CelluForce and 15 companies based in Canada, the United States, Europe and Asia in four main industrial sectors: paints and coatings, films and barriers, textiles, and composites.
Plant construction extended over a 14-month period. Financing of the $36 million plant included $23.2 million from Natural Resources Canada (Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program and Transformative Technologies Program) and $10.2 million from (Source: www.labcanada.com)

The work investigates the potential of starch nanocrystals (SNCs) for industrial scaled-up preparation and use. An extensive characterisation (morphology, viscosity, thermal stability and properties in nanocomposite) of five different SNCs shows, contrary to nanocrystalline cellulose, the limited influence of the botanic source. The analysis of the current preparation process led to three optimisation strategies, and to the definition of a new generation of SNCs with smaller dimensions and more homogeneity. A new application of SNCs is presented (multilayer packaging); and showed that SNCs can effectively reduce water vapour permeability of some biopolymers coatings. The life cycle assessment (LCA) of SNCs in this application is also proposed. This study contributes greatly to the advancements of the field and offers perspectives for the industrialisation of SNCs. (Deborah Le Corre, University of Grenoble doctoral thesis (speciality : Materials, Mechanics, Civil Engineering and Electrochemistry) at Grenoble INP-Pagora.)

Metso will supply the world’s first commercial installation of LignoBoost technology to Domtar in North America. The equipment will be integrated with the Plymouth North Carolina pulp mill. The LignoBoost process separates and collects lignin from pulping liquor. This order is an important breakthrough for Metso’s patented LignoBoost technology and provides the Plymouth NC mill with numerous benefits. Separation of a portion of the mill’s total lignin production off-loads the recovery boiler and allows an increase in pulp production capacity. The lignin recovered will be used for internal and external applications. This project is a potential game changer for the Pulp & Paper industry because it will allow pulp mills to have a new more profitable value stream from a product that was traditionally burned in a recovery boiler. The LignoBoost plant will be in commercial operation in early 2013.

Pitch deposition in pulp or in different parts of the manufacturing system can lead to a decrease in the quality of the final paper produced and to manufacturing efficiency problems. One of the methods to control pitch deposition is the use of talc. Talc acts primarily as a detackifier and must be part of the deposit to control further deposition. The effectiveness of talc as a control agent depends on its structural and surface characteristics (e.g., specific surface, surface energy, surface charge, and ratio of lypophilic to hydrophilic surface), which are related to its mineral composition and the thermal and surface treatments it has undergone.

For this study, five commercial talcs were tested, corresponding to two groups of different mineralogical compositions, to determine their detackification capacity using a deposition tester developed by the Complutense University of Madrid, Spain. In this method, the quantification of the deposits is carried out by an image analysis of stainless steel collectors on which the deposit has formed. After image analysis, a qualitative analysis to determine the deposit organic fraction is carried out by gas chromatography after deposit extraction. The detackification capacity is expressed as the reduction of the deposits formed on the collectors when the different talcs at several concentrations are added to the pulp suspensions.

The results show that pitch detackiness by talc addition is related to talc concentration and mineral surface properties, as for example, chlorite proportion, surface area, and surface treatment, and to the adsorption capacity of pitch on talcs. In general, the talc having the highest quantity of mineral talc presents the best detackification capability, and the detackification of all talcs studied was appreciably reduced at low proportion of addition. This study highlights the high pitch detackification capacity of five talcs with different mineralogic compositions and surface characteristics used at various concentrations. (Source: TAPPI JOURNAL Oct. 2011)

Paper forming is the first step in the paper machine where a fiber suspension leaves the headbox and flows through a forming fabric. Complex physical phenomena occur as the paper forms, during which fibers, fillers, fines, and chemicals added to the suspension interact. Understanding this process is important for the development of improved paper products because the configuration of the fibers during this step greatly influences the final paper quality. Because the effective paper properties depend on the microstructure of the fiber web, a continuum model is inadequate to explain the process and the properties of each fiber need to be accounted for in simulations. This study describes a new framework for microstructure simulation of early paper forming.

Stora Enso is planning to build a pre-commercial plant for the production of mircofibrillated cellulose (MFC) at its Imatra mill. MFC is a new type of renewable material that is supposed to be used in existing and new fibre-based paper and board products as well as in barrier materials. Packaging materials containing MFC are said to be lighter and stronger, according to Stora Enso. The company plans to invest €10m in the pre-commercial facility, which is planned to be commissioned by the end of 2011.

Russia-based Rusnano and flexible packaging producer UralPlastic-N have openend a RUR2.55bn ($83m) packaging plant in Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. The unit will produce 1,800t flexible polymer packaging per month, modified with nanocomposites, which will be used for dairy products, meat, fish, infant nutrition and other food and non-food products. The plant features a ten-layer extrusion line, which enables the company to produce hermetic films, together with a raw materials batching system. The film improves physical and mechanical characteristics of the packaging and its modification with nanocomposites makes it possible to increase the shelf life of packed products.

The functionalisation of paper with a very small concentration of nanoparticles can produce devices with excellent photocatalytic, antibacterial and ant-counterfeiting properties. The paper decribes on properties of gold, silver and titania nano particles along with the preparation methods and potential applicatins.

Advances in Colloid and interface sci. Vol 163(1), pp. 22-38, March 2011.

A simple approach to print polymer/fullerene solar cells on paper substrates has been developed by Prof. Arved Hübler and his group, Institute for Print and Media Technology, Chemnitz University of Technology, Germany. The solar cell is free from expensive indium-tin-oxide and does not employ any vacuum process. Polymer/fullerene solar cells are printed on paper substrate by the combination of gravure and flexographic printing techniques in ambient conditions. The process does not require any vacuum steps. A Paper-roll of printed solar cells is shown. Solar modules can be made by any unskilled person just by cutting the rolls into desired sizes and connecting them with the help of commercial snap fasteners. The vision is to produce cheap, disposable and use-and-throw solar cells anywhere in the world, which can be printed by nearby printers or copy-shops and do not require any technical skill.

Only three roll-to-roll printing steps were used, under normal room conditions, to print the complete solar cells. Naturally oxidized zinc film, printed by transfer printing on paper, acts as cathode. Photoactive layer is a bulk hetrojunction of polymer/fullerene, printed by gravure printing. Poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT: PSS), printed by flexographic printing, acts as transparent anode. Gravure and flexographic printing processes are well-established techniques in conventional printing with a resolution of down to 10 µm, high printing speeds (up to 15 m/s) and low wastage of ink.

Cellulose is a kind of natural polymer which has a highly organized microfibrillar structure and is constantly produced by plants and some animals. Researchers in Tarbiat Modarres University have investigated the process of extraction, cellulose properties and effect of hydrolysis conditions on the production of cellulose nanocrystals from wheat straw.
Two different two-step methods were adopted to extract and purify cellulose. The first step was different in the two methods and comprised acid/base lignin elimination and soda-anthraquinone. The second one was similar in both methods and comprised extraction of holocellulose and cellulose. The purity of cellulose samples was analyzed. Sample cellulose with higher crystallinity degree was chosen and underwent hydrolysis.
The results reveal that nano-cellulose obtained from one of the methods has higher purity but it has less crystallinity degree. SEM and TEM images show that the shape and morphology of nanocrystals could be spherical, rod-like or a combination of them according to the conditions. Owing to exclusive resistance properties and its natural essence, cellulose nanoparticles have extensive applications in cosmetic industry, medical and electronic equipments, food and high quality papers especially nanocomposites. (Source: www.nanotech-now.com, 15^th Sept.2011).

The atomic structures of nanoscale contacts are not available in most experiments on quantum transport. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) operates at a tip-sample distance of a few angstroms and relies on probing a conductive surface in the evanescent tail of electronic states. By decreasing the tip-sample distance the sensitivity to chemical interactions can be enhanced. This has already been demonstrated in non-contact atomic force microscopy (AFM), where the oscillating tip comes for short periods of time within the range of chemical interactions. A team of scientists has now developed Quantum Point Contact Microscopy (QPCM) as a novel imaging mode of low-temperature STM (LT-STM), where instead of measuring a current through a tunneling junction, a transport current through a quantum point contact formed by a single atom between the STM tip and the surface is recorded. (Nanowerk Spotlight, Aug. 16, 20011)

Rice straw pulping trials were carried out with aqueous ammonia mixed with caustic potash to eliminate the black liquor problem in nonwood pulping. The black liquor, which contains nitrogen, potassium and ammoniacal lignin, potentially can be used as a fertilizer for agricultural production. Excess ammonia in the black liquor was recovered by batch distillation. The black liquor was further treated for reuse by coagulation under alkaline conditions. Effects of flocculating condition, such as dosage of 10% aluminum polychloride, dosage of 0.1% polyacrylamide and reaction temperature and pH of black liquor, were studied systematically by experiment to obtain suitable technological conditions. Infrared and other analytical techniques confirmed that major quantities of lignin, 23.73% nitrogen (dried basis), and 6.24% potassium (dried basis) existed in the flocculating residues, which has the potential to be a good solid fertilizer. The amount of delignification and the pulp screen yield for the process remained steady at 83%–85 % and 38-40 %, respectively, when reusing the supernatant four times. (Source: TAPPI Journal, June 2011)

Forward osmosis (FO) is a well-recognized osmotic process for producing clean water with a bright future as it uses a natural phenomenon and does not require any operational pressure. Thus, it saves large amount of energy compared with reverse osmosis process. The biggest challenge facing the wide application of FO technology is the economical separation of drinking water from its draw solution.

A novel nanocomposite FO membrane has been fabricated with a scaffold-like nanofibre support layer that possesses remarkable advantages over conventional sponge-like support layers, such as low tortuosity, high porosity and very thin thickness.

Paper has emerged as a focus area for researchers developing innovative techniques for printed basic electronics components. Paper is widely available and cheap, it is lightweight, biodegradable and you can roll and fold it like you want. Imagine combining this basic tool with modern electronics. Inks developed for pen-on-paper printing exhibit a lower conductivity than a bulk silver – however, this method allows one to conformably pattern conductive features onto rough substrates, such as paper, under ambient conditions. A key advantage is that the costly printers and print heads typically required for inkjet or other printing approaches are replaced with an inexpensive, hand held writing tool. Pen-based printing allows one to construct electronic devices.

New material has been developed for waste water treatment, which is ideally suited for removal of organics and oil spills because of its high and fast swelling capacity with longer retentivity, as demonstrated for diesel oil on water. Using Au nanoparticle-polydimethylsiloxane (AuPDMS) nanocomposites in the form of a foam. With this nanocomposite, one is able to bring together the unique properties of Au nanoparticles and PDMS elastomer. The synthesis is a single step room temperature process involving reduction of Au3+ ions from KAuCl4 precursor in PDMS matrix in presence of water, thus eliminating the need of external reducing and capping agents. It is essentially a green process. The Au nanoparticle loading in the PDMS foam has been optimized (0.03 wt%) to attain a low density (http://www.industrypaper.net:80/1.1 g/cm³), high compressiblity (http://www.industrypaper.net:80/105%) as well as pore volume (http://www.industrypaper.net:80/5.45 cm³/g), towards making it a high performance material. The performance of AuPDMS nanocomposite has been tested against BTEX for comparison, where the sorbent capacity is found to be nearly six times higher compared to PDMS foam without Au nanoparticles. (Ritu Gupta and Giridhar U. Kulkarni, Chemistry and Physics of Materials Unit and DST Unit on Nanoscience, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore.)

Though we are still not very near, the future of shirts, socks and gloves could be electronic. In years to come, wearable electronics will look nothing like even your smallest iPod or mobile phone today. Not only will such devices be embedded on textile substrates, but an electronics device or system could become the fabric itself .These e-textiles will have the revolutionary ability to sense, act, store, emit, and move – think biomedical monitoring functions or new man-machine interfaces, not to mention game controllers – while leveraging an existing low-cost textile manufacturing infrastructure.

Using atomic layer deposition (ALD) – a vapour phase thin film growth process where a metal organic precursor and a reactant are sequentially exposed to a surface – researchers at North Carolina State University (NCSU) have grown coatings of inorganic materials on the surface of textiles like woven cotton and nonwoven polypropylene. By fabricating an all-fiber capacitor, they show that their coated materials (tungsten coatings on quartz fibers) are sufficiently conductive to perform in simple device architectures. On top of that, they demonstrate a technique to characterize coated fiber systems.

Paper has emerged as a focus area for researchers developing innovative techniques for printed basic electronics components. Electronic paper displays are already a commercial reality and prototypes of things like paper batteries are under development. In these applications, researchers transfer thin films, nano particles or other nanostructures onto the desired substrate via various processes. Another area where paper could lead to low-cost innovative devices and applications is lab-on-a-chip technology. Currently, these micro fluidic devices are fairly expensive due to their lithography-based fabrication process with channels patterned in glass or plastic and tiny pumps and valves directing the flow of fluids. Inexpensive paper-based sensing kits already play an important role in ready-to-use diagnostics. Researchers have even managed to create an inexpensive micro fluidic platform on hydrophobic paper with laser treatments. In a further advance, scientists have now fabricated a paper-based metamaterial device which can be potentially utilized for quantitative analysis in biochemical sensing applications.

Nanocrystalline cellulose is a renewable, recyclable and abundant nanomaterial made of cellulose fibers from the wood pulp manufacturing process. FPInnovations inaugurated in late May its new nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) research facilities, which consist of a state-of-the-art pilot plant, new high-performance equipment for the Québec City laboratory, and two new research laboratories located at Pointe-Claire, Que. The pilot plant has a production capacity of 3 kilograms per day, and contains equipment based on leading-edge technology that ensures a rapid transfer of research results into industrial-scale production.

The Pointe-Claire laboratories are dedicated primarily to NCC chemistry, as well as to NCC and nanocomposites characterization. The new laboratory equipment in Québec City is being used in the development of advanced wood materials in the appearance, structural, and composite wood products sector.

The cost of the construction of the facilities and the acquisition of the research equipment amounts to $4.1 million. This investment has been made possible thanks to the financial participation of the Ministère du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation du Québec for 80% of the expenses and, Natural Resources Canada, for 20%, under its Transformative Technologies Program (TT). The project will make it possible to retain 11 full-time scientists and technicians dedicated to NCC research.

The new facilities permit FPInnovations to respond to ever-increasing demand for NCC from various groups. FPInnovations research groups need material for the study, among other things, of applications aimed at varnishes for wood floors, iridescent films and bioplastics. External groups (such as universities, research networks and centres, e.g. ArboraNano - the Canadian Forest Nanoproducts Network) and companies also want the material for research. The pilot plant will also produce material for the development of new grades of NCC beyond the ten or so that have already been identified; the scaling up of NCC modification procedures; and collaboration with the Domtar-FPInnovations joint venture in order to pave the way for the commercialization of NCCs.(Source: Pulp and Paper Canada, June 2, 2011)

The nanocellulose joint venture of Domtar and FPInnovations will be named CelluForce, the partners announced in early June. Construction of the NCC production facility is underway at Domtar's Windsor, Que., pulp and paper mill, and will be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. The companies expect to be producing NCC in January 2012. The joint venture, launched last year, will be led by Jean Moreau, former vice-president finance with Domtar. CelluForce already has about 30 employees, and a headquarters in Montreal.

"The name CelluForce reminds us that one of the main characteristics of the nanocrystalline cellulose is the great strength it provides to the materials to which it is added, but the name also represents the strength of our relationships with our shareholders, our partners and out customers, which is one of the company's core values," explains Moreau.He notes that the new venture differs from traditional pulp and paper products because the end product will be marketed as a chemical. "The input is pulp; the output is NCC, which is a specialty chemical ingredient." (Source: Pulp and Paper Canada, June 7, 2011).

Crill are particles that are too small to be visible under an ordinary microscope but that are of great importance for fibre bonding in paper. A method for measuring crill, which was developed thirty years ago, is now being made available for industrial use. When measuring crill, you measure how "hairy" the fibres are. The more crill found on and around the fibres, the better binding ability they have, which in turn results in a stronger paper. In order to improve paper strength, it is therefore very useful to be able to measure the amount of crill in a pulp. With the aid of a crill sensor, it is possible to determine the amount refining required for optimizing the amount of crill in the pulp. This is also important from an economic point of view, since fibre refining is a very energy intensive process in paper production.

With the support of Forska & Väx (Research & Growth), a VINNOVA Programme, Innventia and Eurocon Analyzer, a measurement technology company, are developing a crill sensor for on-line application in pulp and paper mills. The aim is to make it possible to produce improved paper and pulp quality at lower energy costs.

The world's first pilot plant to produce nanocellulose was inaugurated recently by research company Innventia in Stockholm. The facility makes it possible to produced nanocellulose on a large scale for the first time and is an important step towards the industrialisation of a new energy efficient manufacturing process.

Nano Cellulose is a material derived from wood fibres. It has exceptional strength characteristics of the class with Kevlar, a light weight material. However, in contrast to Kevlar and other materials based on fossil fuels, nanocellulose is completely renewable.

Previously, the production process was much too energy-consuming, for the commercialisation of nanocellulose to be conceivable, but due to the process developments carried out by Innventia, the energy consumption has been reduced by a total of 98%, representing a saving of 29 000 kWh per tonne. To give a comparison, the heating of a normal sized house takes approximately 18,000 kWh per year.

For a long time, there’s been a great deal of interest from the industry in utilising nanocellulose as a strengthening component in other materials, such as paper, composites and plastics. We can also create new, more efficient and renewable barrier films for food packaging.

In order to develop applications, such as paper and composite materials, the raw material produced in a lab is not sufficient. The new pilot plant is designed for a production at 100 kg per day. The inauguration was attended by representatives from the industry as well as, public funders and participants in research related to nanocellulose. Besides looking at the new facility opportunity was offered to take a closer look at samples of nanocellulose and various examples of applications such as barrier films, textile fibers and nano-foams made from nano-cellulose.

Researchers working to commercialize bioactive paper received a second-term, five-year boost of $7.5-million from Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada's (NSERC). The federal funds will support Sentinel Bioactive Paper Network's five research platforms formed to commercialize bioactive paper.

Bioactive paper has important global human health implications, as it can provide fast, easy and inexpensive detection of pathogens and/or toxins in food, water and air. With Sentinel researcher and McMaster University Professor Dr. John Brennan's recent success creating a toxin-detecting dipstick (detects organophosphate pesticides), it's foreseen that bioactive paper strips will be able to detect a range of biohazards affecting humans and animals worldwide. His team's recent publications supported a simple dipstick technology that is able to detect banned organophosphates used in the developing world on agricultural crops.

The pesticide sensor paper is the first example of Brennan's printed sol-gel encapsulated sensors -- a new technology platform. This paper has generated enormous interest and Sentinel is working with industry partners towards pilot scale production of the sensors. More sensors are in the pipeline aimed at food safety.

Stora Enso is taking a significant step forward in renewable materials innovation by building a pre-commercial plant at Imatra in Finland for the production of microfibrillated cellulose. The new type of renewable material will be used in existing and new unique fibre-based paper and board products, barrier materials, and other potential future applications.

It is not only an example of pathfinding innovation together with institutions and universities for the benefit of consumers and even the planet. With MFC, it can develop lighter, stronger renewable packaging materials.  The applications of this renewable material may well extend to replacing today's fossil-based materials such as plastics and some specialty chemicals and aluminium. The microfibrillated cellulose technology project, including the Imatra pre-commercial plant, is estimated to total approximately EUR 10 million. The plant is scheduled to start production by the end of 2011.

While current cigarettes are made with a filter created from cellulose acetate which absorbs things like nicotine, tar, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, Chinese researchers have discovered that nanomaterials from titanium dioxide (TiO₂) can be used to reduce the harmful chemicals. For many years, researchers have been looking at adding nanomaterials to current cigarette filters and have tried carbon nanotubes and mesoporous silica. These have worked well; however, they are expensive and like are known about possible health risks.

Mingdeng Wei, from Fuzhou University has teamed with colleagues at the Fujian Tobacco Industrial Corporation and has discovered that titanate nanotubes and nanoshets can be used to filter tobacco smoke and greatly reduce the harmful effects. Nanomaterials can be easily synthesized with titanium dioxide at a relatively inexpensive cost. Since TiO₂ is currently on the market and found in products such as cosmetics, sunscreens, and even food, there is no possible health risk.The team created both titanate nanosheets and nanotubes to compare them when added to the tips of cigarettes. Using a machine to smoke them and the use of high performance liquid chromatography and ion chromatography to measure the amount of captured chemicals, Wei and his team discovered that the tubes were twice as efficient as the sheets.

While their research is currently looking at the benefits of the TiO₂ nanomaterials with cigarettes, their hope is it could also be used in other filtering devices such as air purification systems and gas masks. (Smoking is injurious to health)

University of Technology, Sydney scientists have reported remarkable results in developing a composite material based on graphite that is a thin as paper and ten times stronger than steel. In work recently published in the Journal of Applied Physics, a UTS research team supervised by Professor Guoxiu Wang has developed reproducible test results and nanostructural samples of graphene paper, a material with the potential to revolutionise the automotive, aviation, electrical and optical industries.

Graphene paper (GP) is a material that can be processed, reshaped and reformed from its original raw material state - graphite. Researchers at UTS have successfully milled the raw graphite by purifying and filtering it with chemicals to reshape and reform it into nano-structured configurations which are then processed into sheets as thin as paper. These graphene nanosheet stacks consist of monolayer hexagonal carbon lattices and are placed in perfectly arranged laminar structures which give them exceptional thermal, electrical and mechanical properties.

Using a synthesised method and heat treatment, the UTS research team has produced material with extraordinary bending, rigidity and hardness mechanical properties. Compared to steel, the prepared GP is six times lighter, five to six times lower density, two times harder with 10 times higher tensile strength and 13 times higher bending rigidity.

The thermal stability and decomposition of in-situ crosslinked nanocellulose whiskers – poly(methyl vinyl ether-co-maleic acid) – polyethylene glycol formulations (PMVEMA-PEG), (25%, 50%, and 75% whiskers) – were investigated using thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) methods. The thermal degradation behavior of the films varied according to the percent cellulose whiskers in each formulation. The presence of cellulose whiskers increased the thermal stability of the PMVEMA-PEG matrix. It is possible to develop novel material properties by cross-linking cellulose whiskers in which the final physical properties are derived from the cross-linking reagents and cross-linking density. This study examines the thermal properties of cross-linking sulfuric acid derived cellulose whiskers with PMVEMA-PEG, which will be a key property as these tunable hydrogels are utilized for value-added packaging applications. (Source:TAPPI JOURNAL April 2011)

Aligned cellulose nanocrystals/cellulose coelectrospun nanofibers were successfully prepared by using a home-built coelectrospinning and collection system. Cellulose I was dissolved in N-methyl morpholine oxide at 120°C and diluted with dimethyl sulfoxide, which was used in the external concentric capillary needle as the sheath (shell) solution. A cellulose nanocrystal suspension obtained by sulfuric acid hydrolysis of cotton fibers was used as the core liquid in the internal concentric capillary needle after transferring from water to dimethyl sulfoxide. The resultant coelectrospun nanocomposite films were collected onto a rotating wire drum and were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and tensile measurements. The FE-SEM image showed that the cellulose nanocrystals did not appear to cluster in the film formed. Although the crystallinity index of nanocomposite fibers was lower than the unreinforced cellulose electrospun fibers, the cellulose type II reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals had a much higher tensile stress (about 140 MPa), almost twofold that of pure cellulose. This latter result indicated that the alignment and adhesion of amorphous cellulose nanofibers played a crucial role on the mechanical properties of electrospun celluosic fiber mats. Alignment of fibers plays a crucial role in the overall physical properties of electrospun fiber mats, similar to what is observed in the formation of paper sheets from individual fibers. From a commercial perspective, this has strong implications when considering a material’s desired properties. (Source:TAPPI JOURNAL April 2011)

Aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals can be obtained by acid hydrolysis of lignocellulosic fibers. Cellulose nanocrystals correspond to defect-free rod-like nanoparticles that present remarkable properties such as light weight, low cost, availability of raw material, renewability, nanoscale dimension, and unique morphology. Because of these properties, cellulose nanocrystals have been largely applied as reinforcing fillers in nanocomposites materials. This paper discusses the preparation, morphological features, and physical properties of cellulose nanocrystals, as well as their incorporation in nanocomposite materials. Cellulose nanocrystals can be used to prepare nanocomposites with improved mechanical and barrier properties. (Source: , TAPPI JOURNAL April 2011)

The biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has been successfully conducted by reduction of silver nitrate with sun-dried mulberry leaf. Such AgNPs have been characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The results showed that such dispersed, uniform and spherical AgNPs would not aggregate under high-concentration NaCl solution and have good antibacterial activity. It was suggested that the polyol components (such as polyhydroxylated alkaloids) and protein residues of mulberry leaf should be mainly responsible for the stabilization of AgNPs. Such AgNPs produced by the environmentally friendly method have the potential for use in antibacterial and medical applications. (Source; Biosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Sun-Dried Mulberry Leaf

Source: J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Volume 11, Number 4, April 2011 , pp. 3330-3335(6)

The absorption of lithium in montmorillonite [LiSi₈(Al₃Mg)O₂₀(OH)₄] was investigated using Density Functional Theory (DFT). The final position of lithium after absorption was found to be in good agreement with an experimental observation where lithium atom migrated from the interlayer into the vacant octahedral site of montmorillonite. The lithium absorbed on montmorillonite was held together by a very strong attraction between ions and exhibited an insulating behavior as depicted from the density of states curve. Due to the presence of lithium in the octahedral site of montmorillonite, the OH group reoriented itself perpendicular to the ab plane and an electron of lithium was transferred in order to compensate the existing net charge of montmorillonite caused by isomorphous substitutions. Relative small charge transfer was observed between lithium and montmorillonite.(Source: J. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology,11 (4), April 2011 , pp. 2793-2801)

One downside of electron microscopy is that the electron beam can damage the materials being imaged by breaking bonds and changing molecular structures. But Jamie Warner and his colleagues at the University of Oxford, UK, used this to their advantage, and obtained unprecedented pictures of crystals forming at the atomic level. They directed an 80-kilovolt electron beam through a thin film of 'peapods'; carbon nanotubes containing spheres of carbon atoms called buckyballs. Each buckyball contained two atoms of praseodymium. Prolonged exposure to the beam caused the buckyballs to coalesce, forming an inner nanotube. The praseodymium atoms were released into this inner nanotube, allowing them to form praseodymium carbide crystals. (Source: Nature, Vol.470,p.142;10 Feb. 2011)

There are already several technologies that potentially allow mass production of graphene sheets – by chemical vapour deposition growth; by epitaxial growth of graphene on top of a metal surface and various wet chemical processes of processing graphene in solution by exfoliating. In new work, Englert and a group of scientists from the University Erlangen-Nuremberg, led by Andreas Hirsch, have now demonstrated the first bulk wet chemical exfoliation of graphite in association with an in situ covalent functionalization of intermediately generated graphene. With this novel chemical method, it is now possible to achieve covalently bonded functionalities without mechanical or sonochemical treatment. The covalent functionalization also protects the single-layer graphene from reaggregation and substrate-induced doping. The Group has activated readily available graphite by reduction with a sodium/potassium alloy. The excessive negative charge eases the exfoliation of the sheets, and guarantees a facile reaction of in situ generated graphene with electrophiles.

ASD’s QualitySpec® K-B pulp analyzer can reduce the expense and risk of errors for two critical pulp-processing production measurements: Kappa number and ISO brightness.

ASD, a supplier of analytical instrumentation and materials measurement solutions, is closely watching the early adopters of the QualitySpec K-B, a near-infrared pulp analyzer designed to help mills obtain less expensive, more accurate production data.

The rapid and repeatable measurement of Kappa number and brightness enabled by the QualitySpec K-B gives operators more reliable data, tighter process control, and ultimately, increased profits. Accurate monitoring and adjustment of Kappa number and brightness levels in pulp guide the optimal balance of chemicals needed to produce market-ready pulp. (Source: Pulp & Paper Mag.Jan-Feb 2011)

The LSC TecoSens of Voith Paper provides simultaneous online measurement of fibre weight and moisture based on an infrared spectroscopic measurement. Fibre weight and moisture measurement can be performed with just one sensor and without the need for radioactive sources. The sensor is based on the proven Voith LSC infrared moisture sensor and measures the absorption of infrared light at four characteristic wavelengths. In combination with optimized optics and sophisticated algorithms, the sensor provides superior signal to noise ratio and sensitivity.

Increased fibre fraction and nanoparticle technology allow Gemini and Genesis composite roll covers from Xerium Technologies to deliver exceptional toughness and durability for the most demanding calender applications, while still maintaining superior surface finish. Both covers feature Stowe Woodward’s exclusive Thermaguard™ base, which provides temperature consistency across the cover face. This consistency, combined with improved toughness, provides optimal abrasion resistance, ideal barring resistance, and reduced sheet marking. Gemini and Genesis roll covers also demonstrate increased temperature stability and greater impact resistance. Gemini is designed for online multi-nip and soft calender applications, while Genesis is engineered for the most demanding supercalender and soft calender applications.

Canfor Corp. in Canada has selected FITNIR Analyzers Inc. to supply and install advanced infrared measurement technology at their Intercontinental pulp mill in Prince George, B.C.  FITNIR's analyzer will enable Canfor to monitor and control key chemical data to optimize the solution composition of its chlorine dioxide (ClO₂) generator. The improved generator efficiency and pulp production levels will provide tangible financial and environmental benefits.

Implementation is underway and expected to be completed in the spring of 2011.The decision to implement FITNIR was made on the heels of the successful completion of the system upgrade at the Northwood mill site in October 2010. With the accurate measurements that the analyzer will provide, Canfor's Intercontinental pulp mill can expect significant savings on chemical costs. Furthermore, anticipated system reliability and efficiency improvements will result in considerably less downtime and lost pulp production, as well as a higher quality product.

EcoSynthetix has developed a range of latex binders based on a biopolymer nanoparticle technology which provides replacement of petro-based binders such as SB and SA latex. It provides similar performance as the petro-based polymers but it is environmentally more friendly.(Paper technology, Feb 2011)

Scientists with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have designed a new composite material for hydrogen storage consisting of nanoparticles of magnesium metal sprinkled through a matrix of polymethyl methacrylate, a polymer related to Plexiglas. This pliable nanocomposite rapidly absorbs and releases hydrogen at modest temperatures without oxidizing the metal after cycling -- a major breakthrough in materials design for hydrogen storage, batteries and fuel cells. (Source: ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2011)

The course is being organised by 3 universities: Danube University Krems, University of Technology Vienna and University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna. This new Master course offers latest scientific knowledge in nanotechnology based diagnostic and therapeutic applications in medicine and practical background know-how for new product development in food, pharmaceutic, cosmetic and biomedical industries.

This highly innovative MSc course, leads students all the way from the fundamentals of biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology, through microscopy techniques, nanostructures, devices and nanomaterials, to bio-nano-sensing and diagnostics, and also addresses potential risks and regulatory issues. The syllabus will cover applications of nanobioscience and nanomedicine in food, pharmaceutic, cosmetic and biomedical industries as well as medical diagnostic and therapeutic technologies, and their transfer into business.

The International Master Program is guaranteed and managed by the academic staff leaders: Prof. DI Dr. Uwe B. Sleytr, Department of NanoBiotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna; Prof. Dr. Erich Gornik, Center for Micro- and Nanotechnology, Vienna University of Technology; Prof. Dr. Dieter Falkenhagen, Department for Clinical Medicine and Biotechnology, Danube University Krems.

For further information, visit www.nanobiomed.at or contact Ms Sabine Siebenhandl, tel +43 (0) 2732 893 2635; sabine.siebenhandl@donau-uni.ac.at

Previously, the standard optical microscope could only see items around one micrometer -- 0.001 millimeters – clearly but now, by combining an optical microscope with a transparent microsphere, dubbed the 'microsphere nanoscope', the Manchester researchers can see 20 times smaller -- 50 nanometers ((5 x 10-8m) -- under normal light. This is beyond the theoretical limit of optical microscopy. This greatly-increased capacity means the scientists, led by Professor Lin Li and Dr Zengbo Wang, could potentially examine the inside of human cells, and examine live viruses in great detail for the first time.

The scientists, from the School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, now believe they can use the microscope to detect far smaller images in the future. The new method has no theoretical limit in the size of a feature that can be seen. The new nano-imaging system is based on capturing optical, near-field virtual images, which are free from optical diffraction and amplifying them using a microsphere, a tiny spherical particle which is further relayed and amplified by a standard optical microscope.

The Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST) has called for greater appraisal of the potential risks from the release into the environment of nanomaterials used in food packaging. The possibility that wider exposure to anti-microbial agents in food contact materials (FCMs) may contribute to heightened bacterial resistance was highlighted as an area of concern for the UK-based body. It also said the accumulation of nanosilver in the environment should be scrutinised and the development of bespoke recycling procedures considered.

Two nanocelluloses (cellulose nanofibers [CNF] and nanowhiskers [CNW]) were extracted from soft-wood flour using chemical refining followed either by mechanical fibrillation or acid hydrolysis. The CNF slurry formed an opaque gel that exhibited highly coiled and entangled long fibers with widths between 10 and 20 nm when studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The aqueous suspension of the CNW formed a transparent gel with unique morphology of rigid and uniform, whiskerlike structures with widths as low as 1.5–3 nm and lengths in micrometer levels. The viscoelastic properties of these hydrogels with solids content of 0.2 wt% were measured using dynamic rheology experiments. The elastic modulus (G') and viscous modulus (G'') were frequency independent in the low-frequency region. Furthermore, G' was almost 10-fold higher than G'', showing a typical elastic gel behavior. The lower crystallinity obtained from X-ray analysis indicated that the unique structure of CNW from wood could be attributed to the native cellulose being partly dissolved and regenerated during acid hydrolysis.The cellulose nanofibers and nanowhiskers isolated from raw wood show promise as nanorein-forcements for composites, such as transparent films and hydrogels.(Source: Tappi Journal, Feb. 2011)

Two nanocelluloses (cellulose nanofibers [CNF] and nanowhiskers [CNW]) were extracted from soft-wood flour using chemical refining followed either by mechanical fibrillation or acid hydrolysis. The CNF slurry formed an opaque gel that exhibited highly coiled and entangled long fibers with widths between 10 and 20 nm when studied using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The aqueous suspension of the CNW formed a transparent gel with unique morphology of rigid and uniform, whiskerlike structures with widths as low as 1.5–3 nm and lengths in micrometer levels. The viscoelastic properties of these hydrogels with solids content of 0.2 wt% were measured using dynamic rheology experiments. The elastic modulus (G') and viscous modulus (G'') were frequency independent in the low-frequency region. Furthermore, G' was almost 10-fold higher than G'', showing a typical elastic gel behavior. The lower crystallinity obtained from X-ray analysis indicated that the unique structure of CNW from wood could be attributed to the native cellulose being partly dissolved and regenerated during acid hydrolysis. The cellulose nanofibers and nanowhiskers isolated from raw wood show promise as nanorein-forcements for composites, such as transparent films and hydrogels. (Source: Tappi Journal, Feb 2011)

Researchers at McGill University have taken a key step towards making a cheap, portable, paper-based filter coated with silver nanoparticles to be used in these emergency settings. Silver has been used to clean water for a very long time. Coated thick (0.5mm) hand-sized sheets of an absorbent porous paper with silver nanoparticles have been found to kill bacteria. Viewed in an electron microscope, the paper looks as though there are silver polka dots all over, and the neat thing is that the silver nanoparticles stay on the paper even when the contaminated water goes through. Even when the paper contains a small quantity of silver (5.9 mg of silver per dry gram of paper), the filter is able to kill nearly all the bacteria and produce water that meets the standards set by the American Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  (Source: ScienceDaily (Feb. 25, 2011)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $5.5 million to three consortia to support research on nanotechnology. Packaging Digest has reported on nanotechnology's potential in the packaging industry  that delves into how the technology can be used for covert authentication and track-and-trace features for consumer packaged goods.

The agency says it understands that many U.S. industries can benefit from the positive applications of nanotechnology, including environmental remediation, pollution prevention, innovative drug delivery and therapy, efficient renewable energy, and effective energy storage. The EPA also states that the scientific information developed from the research can help guide it and other agencies when making decisions about the safety of new materials and products that are made using nanotechnology. The grants EPA has awarded will help researchers determine whether certain nanomaterials can leach out of products when they are used or disposed of and whether they could become toxic to people and the environment. (Source; packaging Digest, 23-2-2011)

Oxfordshire-based small business Cella Energy has developed the potentially revolutionary green technology that brings the prospect of hydrogen fuel to the pump at less than half the price of today's petrol prices. Cella won £40,000 for developing the nanotechnology that allows hydrogen to be stored in a cheap, practical way. Hydrogen is the holy grail of green transport because it emits zero emissions, but as a fuel technology it is currently too expensive for the mass market and the chemical is difficult to store. Cella Energy's invention uses nanotechnology to store hydrogen safely in microbeads smaller than a grain of sand. The microbeads release hydrogen when heated, producing energy which can fuel cars, lorries, ships or planes.

The microbeads can be safely transported to petrol stations and can be added to fuel and used in existing engines as an additive to conventional fuels or on their own to make zero carbon hydrogen gas for vehicles.

A novel way of splitting materials into sheets just one atom thick could lead to new electronic and energy storage technologies. A novel way of splitting materials into sheets just one atom thick could lead to new electronic and energy storage technologies. A versatile way to create one atom thick "nanosheets" from a range of layered materials has been invented, similar to the graphite used in pencils, using ultrasonic pulses and common solvents. The new method is simple, cheap, fast, and could be scaled up to work on an industrial scale.

The research adds to previous studies by two Russian-born scientists, who last year won the Nobel Prize for physics for their work on graphene, a form of carbon that is just one atom thick and yet 100 times stronger than steel. Because of its extraordinary electronic properties graphene has been getting all the attention as physicists hope that it might one day compete with silicon in electronics. In fact there are hundreds of other layered materials that could enable us to create powerful new technologies.

The new materials created include Boron Nitride, Molybdenum disulfide and Bismuth telluride, having chemical and electronic properties which make them suitable for use in new electronic devices, super-strong composite materials and energy generation and storage. Of the many possible applications of these new nanosheets, perhaps the most important are as thermoelectric materials. These materials could be made into devices that generate electricity from waste heat lost from places like gas, oil or coal-fired power plants, which lose between 50 and 70% of the energy they produce in waste heat. The development of efficient thermoelectric devices would allow some of this waste heat to be recycled cheaply and easily.

Scientists have been trying for decades to create nanosheets of these kind of materials, because arranging them in atom-thick layers enables their unusual electronic and thermoelectric properties to be unlocked but all previous methods were very time consuming and laborious, and the resulting materials were fragile and not suitable for most applications.

The new method offers low-costs, a very high yield and a very large throughput -- within a couple of hours, and with just 1 milligram of material, billions and billions of one-atom-thick graphene-like nanosheets can be made at the same time from a wide variety of exotic layered materials. These new materials could also be used in next generation batteries known as "supercapacitors," which can deliver energy thousands of times faster than standard batteries and could vastly improve technologies such as electric cars. (Source: The Vancouver Sun, 4-2-11)

Nanotechnology has grown from its stage of infancy to a stage claiming the present era to be nano-era. Forest products industry is considered to be the most fertile ground for the growth of this revolutionary technology. This paper is devoted to technology forecasting on the applications of nanotechnology to all forest products industry including plantation, pulp, paper, packaging, newsprint and allied products and processes therein. The technology forecasting made here may be useful in corporate planning and initiating nanotechnology by the paper industry notably.

The years to come will be very interesting in terms of the development taking place in nanotechnology. With funding from both governments and venture capitalists, the innovation process will accelerate. Progress is likely to be made also in bringing practical solutions to markets faster. Prospects for nanotechnology are so enormous that paper industry cannot afford to ignore the development carried out in this field and the possibilities brought about thereby. The present era is already attributed to nanotechnology.(Paper published in PaperAsia Nov.-Dec.2010)

Ultrathin metal films can exhibit quantum size and surface effects that give rise to unique physical and chemical properties. Metal films containing just a few layers of atoms can be fabricated on substrates using deposition techniques, but the production of freestanding ultrathin structures remains a significant challenge. It is reported that the facile synthesis of freestanding hexagonal palladium nano sheets that are less than 10 atomic layers thick, using carbon monoxide as a surface confining agent. The as-prepared nano sheets are blue in colour and exhibit a well-defined but tunable surface plasmon resonance peak in the near-infrared region. The combination of photo thermal stability and biocompatibility makes palladium nano sheets promising candidates for photo thermal therapy. The nano sheets also exhibit electro catalytic activity for the oxidation of formic acid that is 2.5 times greater than that of commercial palladium black catalyst. (Source-Nature nanotechnology Dec 5, 2011)

To determine the potential of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) for use as a coating material, the characteristics of several NFC-coated samples on a synthetic fibre sheet were studied. Two water-based printing methods were used to characterize the change in print quality and prepared two types of NFC by two different physical treatment methods. Various coat weights were applied onto synthetic fibre sheets and the printability of the coated sheets was evaluated by ink absorption rates and print density. Ink pigment penetration was characterized with a confocal laser scanning microscope and a scanning electron microscope, with chemical analysis of samples using focused ion beam. The contact angle and the ink penetration rates decreased with increased coat weight of NFC. This result is the opposite of what the Lucas-Washburn equation would predict. For pigment-based flexographic inks, ink pigments were captured at the NFC layer. For dye-based inks, the ink components penetrated and moved through the NFC-coated layer. For ink-jet printing, the print quality improved with the NFC coating. Synthetic fibre sheets coated with NFC can improve printing resolution and ink density, especially for pigment-type inks. ((Source: TAPPI J., Nov. 2010)

Researchers at Northwestern University have nanoengineered a new kind of fibre that could be tougher than Kevlar. Researchers at the McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science have created a high performance fibre from carbon nanotubes and a polymer that is remarkably tough, strong, and resistant to failure. Using state-of-the-art in-situ electron microscopy testing methods, the group was able to test and examine the fibers at many different scales -- from the nano scale up to the macro scale -- which helped them understand just exactly how tiny interactions affect the material's performance. To create the new fibre, researchers began with carbon nanotubes -- cylindrical-shaped carbon molecules, which individually have one of the highest strengths of any material in nature. However, when the nanotubes are bundled together, they lose their strength; the tubes start to laterally slip between each other.

High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) is invaluable technique to study nanoscale properties of crystalline materials. The high-resolution transmission electron microscope TITAN CUBED 80-300 has been set on work at the Institute of Physics of the Polish Academy of Sciences.. Instead of beam of light, a beam of electrons is used to "illuminate" the investigated sample. Microscope is build of vertical column, on top of which the electron gun is placed. Below the gun is the system forming electron beam composed of monochromator and electrostatic and electromagnetic lenses. After passing through the sample, the transmitted electron beam comes through the system of lenses which form a sample's image magnified millions times. The investigated sample should be very thin (its thickness should not exceed 1 micron) so special techniques of its preparation must be used. At present, sample preparation takes us about one week (with standard techniques).

The new microscope is additionally equipped with electron energy losses spectrometer and gives possibility of holographic imaging and investigation in liquid nitrogen temperatures. The facility has electronic optics of very high quality, very stable accelerating voltage and very sensitive image detectors. Unique qualities of the microscope allows to follow processes undergoing in investigated sample, for example when its temperature changes.

Naturally occurring attapulgite clays and zeolites are also used in nanofilters. These are locally available in many places around the world and have innate nanometer-size pores. A study using attapulgite clay membranes to filter wastewater from a milk factory in Algeria has shown they can economically and effectively reduce whey and other organic matter in wastewater, making it safe to drink.

Zeolites can also be fabricated. They can be used to separate harmful organics from water and to remove heavy metal ions. Researchers at Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization have created a low-cost synthetic clay, hydrotalcite, that attracts arsenic, removing it from water. They have suggested a novel packaging for this product for low-income communities;a 'teabag' that can be dipped into household water supplies for about 15 minutes before drinking. Selling the used teabags back to the authorities might increase recycling and help with waste disposal of concentrated arsenic.

QuickFill BioTex is one of the paper sack concepts with a moisture protection made from bioplastic from  Billerud Tenova Bioplastics. The moisture protection is manufactured from a renewable raw material derived from cornstarch. All the components are both biodegradable and compostable. Moisture barriers often force customers to compromise on the productivity of the filling process, but with these new concepts all that has changed. Billerud's QuickFill sack paper, which combines high strength and high porosity, is a vital component of the new sack concepts. The end customer focus has been the driving force behind the development of Billerud's new sack solutions for products such as construction materials and industrial minerals in powder form.

Mills having recovery boilers with excess capacity can potentially mix other biofuels into the black liquor to produce more electricity from biomass. This work is a laboratory study of the effect on combustion of mixing other biofuels with black liquor. The four fuels mixed with softwood black liquor were bark, wood chips, peat, and bio-sludge (which some mills already burn with black liquor). Droplets of the mixed fuels were burned at 1100°C and 3% O₂ in a single particle reactor. Video and on-line gas analyzers for CO, CO₂ and NO were used to measure swelling, combustion times, carbon evolution (CO+CO₂), and NO formation tendency. Changes in swelling, char burning, and NO formation were found, but the results indicate that mixing biofuels with black liquor may be a reasonable method of producing additional electricity. (TAPPI J., Sept.2010)

A method has been developed using Simons’ stain (SS) that allows quantification of pulp fiber development in terms of fiber wall D/IF during different process conditions, as well as statistical analysis of whole pulp fiber populations of different thermomechanical pulp (TMP) types for the degree of D/IF developed in pulp fibres. The attributes of SS for producing different coloured reactions (blue, green, orange, etc.) in pulp fibers through cell wall modification during processing were used in correlation with light microscopy. The method readily measured the degree of cell wall D/IF of pulp fibers from different double-disc refined TMPs produced using varying levels of specific energy and refining pressures. The SS method revealed the presence of five sub-fiber populations in a whole pulp of a given TMP type representing different categories of fibers that possessed varying degrees of cell wall D/IF as a result of process conditions/treatments.Results of statistical analysis indicated that, while D/IF was significantly induced by both the applied refining pressure and specific energy, the effect of energy had the greatest influence. (Source- Tappi J., Oct.2010)

According to a paper in TAPPI. Journal (Oct.2010), there are beneficial attributes of z-direction fiber orientation (ZDFO) for structural paperboards. A survey of commercial linerboards indicated the presence of ZDFO in one material that had higher Taber stiffness, out-of-plane shear strength, directional dependence of Scott internal bond strength and directional brightness. Laboratory handsheets were made with a specialized procedure to produce ZDFO. Handsheets with ZDFO had higher out-of-plane shear strength than handsheets formed conventionally. Materials with high out-of-plane shear strength had greater bending stiffness and compressive strength because of their ability to resist shear deformations.

Four-dimensional electron micro­scopy produces “movies” of nanoscale processes occurring over time intervals as short as fem to seconds (10^–15 second).The technique builds up each frame of the movie from thousands of individual shots taken at precisely defined times. It has applications in a wide range of fields, including materials science, nanotechnology and medicine. The research group at the California Institute of Technology in USA has developed a new form of imaging, unveiling motions that occur at the size scale of atoms and over time intervals as short as a femtosecond (a million billionth of a second). Because the technique enables imaging in both space and time and is based on the venerable electron microscope, dubbed it four-dimensional (4-D) electron microscopy.

Researchers in Zyvex Labs in Richardson, Texas, USA have demonstrated a process that uses a scanning tunneling microscope tip to remove protective surface hydrogen atoms from silicon one at a time and then adds single atomic layers of silicon only to those meticulously cleared areas. They have been able to remove 50 hydrogen atoms per second. Zyvex Labs will be selling initial production tools that can remove more than a million hydrogen atoms a second using 10 parallel tips at a cost of about $2,000 per cubic micrometer of added silicon (48 billion atoms).

Applications that would benefit most from having tiny atomically precise structures include nanopore membranes, qubit structures for quantum computers and nanometrology standards. Larger-scale applications, such as nanoimprint templates, would need still further cost-performance improvements to become economically viable.

The Zyvex process is currently used only on silicon surfaces, which are typically coated with hydrogen atoms bound to any exposed silicon atoms. The process has two steps: first, in an ultra high vacuum, a scanning tunneling microscope is directed to remove individual hydrogen atoms from only those locations where additional silicon will later be added. Second, a silicon hydride gas is introduced. A single layer of these molecules adheres to any exposed hydrogen-free silicon atoms. After deposition, the gas is removed and the process is repeated to build up as many three-dimensional layers of atomically pure silicon as is needed.

Chinese scientists reveal an easy and effective synthetic method to obtain iron oxide microspheres to treat contaminated water. Industrial wastewater containing toxic metal ions and organic pollutants has become a serious threat to the environment and public health. So the synthesis of three-dimensional micro and nanomaterials with the capability of absorbing undesired water contaminants in a straightforward and effective manner is a priority for environmental scientists.

Now Hongjie Zhang and colleagues at Changhun Institute of Applied Chemistry have designed an easy method to synthesise flower-shaped Fe₃O₄ microspheres with magnetic properties, which can be used as absorbents to treat wastewater. Unlike previous synthetic routes, Zhang's hydrothermal method avoids the use of surfactants and copolymers that would need to be removed from solution.

The micro sized metal oxide particles posses large surface areas which give them the capability of treating large volumes of water in short times. They can be easily separated from solution by a magnet and cleaned by heating to keep the same adsorption performance in subsequent use.

The precise and non-turbulent needle jet of the Metso TrimSquirt web edge cutting device at the forming section provides high-quality edges for the press and dryer sections. The design allows single, double or triple jet nozzle operation, typically at 25 bar (360 PSI) pressure. The minimum cleanliness requirement for the supply water is 25 µm to prevent nozzle plugging. The TrimSquirt is very straightforward to use. The nozzle jet angle in the machine direction can be adjusted and the multi-jet nozzles rotated during the run. The adjustments are done to achieve the best cutting effect with regard to machine speed, fabric type and produced grade. A measuring sensor transfers data on the sheet width to the machine control system. The squirt pipes and nozzles can easily be replaced during the run, one at a time if needed.

The PP3000T is a highly automated, easy to use, column-mounted, gas-cooled cryo preparation system suitable for most makes and models of SEM, FE-SEM and FIB/SEM. The PP3000T has all the facilities needed to rapidly freeze and transfer specimens. The cryo preparation chamber is turbomolecular pumped and includes tools for cold fracturing, controlled sublimation and specimen coating. The specimen can then be transferred onto a highly stable SEM cold stage for observation. Cold trapping in the cryo preparation chamber and SEM chamber ensures the whole process is frost free. Key features of the PP3000T:

• High resolution performance
• Large ‘recipe’ driven touch screen user interface
• Easy to use - extensive automation, on-screen help, videos etc
• Column-mounted preparation chamber - essential for frost-free transfer and ease of use
• Cold stage temperature down to -190°C, plus comprehensive cold trapping
• Turbo pumping system mounted off-column - less mass on the SEM
• Unsurpassed specimen visibility - large front window, top viewing ports, multiple LED chamber lighting
• Cameras in the preparation chamber and SEM - cumbersome binocular not needed
• Preparation chamber cooling - eight-hour hold time with a single fill of liquid nitrogen
• Independent gas-cooling of the SEM cold stage and cold trap - temperature range down to -192°C (not possible with conduction cooling)
• Off-column cooling of SEM stage and cold trap - 24 hour hold time
• Actively cooled fracturing and manipulation tools - micrometer knife and probe
• Twin liquid nitrogen slushing and specimen handling system - ideal for handling pre-frozen specimens

The new ZEMAS (ZEISS Electron Microscopy Applications Software) from Carl Zeiss integrates innovative data acquisition, viewing and analysis capabilities into the LIBRA series TEMs. ZEMAS enables scientists to conduct routine and advanced TEM / STEM nano-characterization experiments with an unprecedented ease of use.

According to a new technology being pioneered by Newcastle University uses silicon carbide electronics that can withstand temperatures equal to the inside of a jet engine. Measuring subtle changes in the levels of key volcanic gases such as carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide, the wireless sensor would feed back real-time data to the surface, providing vital information about volcanic activity and any impending eruption. Presently, there is no way of accurately monitoring the situation inside a volcano and most data collection actually goes on post-eruption. (ScienceDaily, Sep. 20, 2010)

Ink loaded with carbon nanotubes can be brushed onto paper–in this case, forming the Chinese characters for "conductive". Such nanotube-impregnated paper could lead to advanced, lightweight batteries. Plain white office paper could be the basis for efficient batteries. Scientists have converted sheets of them into efficient electrical storage devices using ink loaded with carbon nanotubes.

To devise the novel paper batteries, researchers in  Stanford University, have  colleagues coated plain copy paper with black ink made with single-walled carbon nanotubes, which are electrically conductive pipes only billionths of a meter wide. Positive and negative electrodes—cathodes and anodes—were then applied as slurries dried on the nanotube-impregnated paper. The cathodes were made from lithium manganese oxide nanorods, and the anodes made either from nanopowders of lithium titanium oxide or nanowires with cores of carbon covered with shells of silicon.

The batteries were then dipped in an electrolyte of lithium hexafluorophosphate solution to connect the electrodes and sealed in a pouch. In this setup the nanotubes collected current from each electrode. The researchers say that incorporating carbon nanotube paper into conventional rechargeable batteries could reduce their weight by up to 20 percent.

This reduction could help make electric and hybrid vehicles more feasible and could lead to longer-lasting mobile phones, laptops and other portable electronics. The carbon nanotubes bonded very strongly to the paper, obviating the need for adhesives that decrease performance and significantly increase production costs. The battery could also bend and curl without losing its ability to conduct a charge and can be easily laminated into flexible computers to power the devices. The team noted in their paper that its technique is easily scalable for mass production, and that the ink could even be painted on with brushes, if desired.

SUNY Binghamton's Center for Advanced Microelectronics Manufacturing in the United States are giving factory production of solar energy cells a modern makeover. Their approach includes the use of "continuous electronic sheets," something like a computer flattened into wrapping paper to perform its many functions (Pub. in J. of Renewable and Sustainable Energy). Doing this includes: the use of large-scale, flexible format; roll-to-roll manufacturing, a process resembling the printing process of newspapers; and the use of continuous electronic sheets. To reach this goal, the Wang team devised a promising hybrid material that has high structural quality but is compatible with the roll-to-roll processing technique.(Sci.daily 14 Sept,2010)

The CNRS medal in France was awarded to 69 years old Gérard Férey on the 9th Sept 2010 to Chemist, Gérard Férey, 69 years old, for his work on storage materials, which can store carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The advantage of micro pores and cavities has been taken in designing the storing material. The work was under progress from 1992 in the Institute of Lavoisier at Versailles. One cubic meter of a product termed as MIL-101 can store approximately 400 m³ of CO₂ at 25^oC without any increase in volume.

A dip in nanotube ink turns ordinary office paper into a high-energy electrode. Ordinary paper can be turned into a battery electrode simply by dipping it into carbon-nanotube inks. The resulting electrodes, which are strong, flexible, and highly conductive, might be used to make cheap energy storage devices to power portable electronics. It is now possible to print lightweight circuits and screens for electronics like e-readers, but conventional batteries still weigh these devices down. Carbon nanotubes are a promising material for printing batteries because, in addition to their strength, light weight, and conductivity, they can store a large amount of energy--a quality that helps portable electronics run longer between charges. Now a group of Stanford University researchers have demonstrated that ordinary office paper soaks up carbon nanotubes like a sponge and can be turned into electrodes for batteries and supercapacitors. The advantage of paper is that it is cheap and interacts strongly with nanotubes without the need for putting additives in the ink. The advantage of the porous structure of paper is taken here. Carbon nanotubes absorb into the paper and stick on really tightly. After paper is dipped in the nanotube ink and air-dried, it becomes highly conductive. The Stanford group tested the thin films as electrodes in supercapacitors and found that they could store more total energy, and operate at higher currents, than previous printed nanotube devices. The paper supercapacitors store a surprisingly high amount of charge. The Stanford group also tested the paper electrodes as current collectors in lithium-ion batteries. Their performance matched that of the metal current collectors used in these batteries, even though the metal collectors are much heavier.

Multilayer curtain coating has the potential to revolutionize the art and science of paper and board coating, allowing precise, cost-effective coverage of the base sheet to get the tailor-made functionality desired. The technology is Metso’s new OptiLayer multilayer curtain coating system, which adds several different coating layers to the web at the same time in a non-contact operation with essentially no speed restrictions. This gives extremely high efficiency with regard to coating chemicals, machine runnability, drying efficiency and overall cost of the process. The coating follows the contour of the sheet for complete and even coverage of the web.

A new extra-long durability thermal paper grade was developed using this technology. The process was developed by Metso in close cooperation with the coating formulation supplier Dow Chemical. The two companies have cooperated in the development of this technology for paper and board manufacturing applications. One of the leaders in the use of OptiLayer is Dong Il Paper in Korea, which has succeeded in producing and marketing a new white liner grade based on 100% recycled brown stock. Thus brown simply becomes white in a single, cost-effective coating step. No bleaching, no white fiber.

The OptiLayer technology is based on curtain coating methods that have been around for a fairly long time. What are new and revolutionary are the multilayer aspect and its successful commercial application in installations around the world. While there is a fair amount of secrecy surrounding some of the installations, two of them, Dong Il in Korea and Jujo Thermal in Finland, have been willing to discuss their results. In both of these cases, the companies have used this new technology to develop products, processes and functionality that has helped to keep them a step ahead of the competition.

At its Ansan mill near Seoul, Dong Il rebuilt a brown liner machine with the OptiLayer multilayer curtain coater. It was therefore able to launch two new grades based on 100% recycled brown fibers, which it calls WL (White Liner) and CWL (Coated White Liner), taking a market share on the Korean market. Although Dong Il had no previous experience with coating, the unit easily started up in December 2008 and has been running very well for more than a year.

The multi-layer curtain coater gives us wide flexibility by putting the right properties in the right place at the right cost. Titanium dioxide for light scattering, for example, can be put in the second layer from the top, which frees up the top layer for printability adjusting and fine tuning. This means ratio adjustments for properties like brightness can easily be made on the run. At the same time, the precise curtain coating method gives much lower coating waste and broke.

Cotton impregnated with silver nanowires and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) could provide a cheap and effective method of purifying water in remote locations. A new filter needs only gravity and a weak electric current to produce its sterilising effect, making it suitable for a portable water-treatment device. Analysing the fabric with a scanning electron microscope reveals that the CNTs stick to the individual cotton fibres, while the slightly larger silver nanowires form a mesh between the fibres. The nanoparticles enable the fabric to conduct electricity, so a weak electric current can run across it. This helps kill bacteria by damaging their outer membranes, while the silver nanowires' anti-bacterial properties do the rest.

Cascade has announced that they are entering into the “Intelligent paper” market with a novel approach in the fight against bacteria by hand contact. The first product launched into this market niche is an antibacterial hand towel with persistent action. The Intelligent antibacterial paper hand towel reduces the amount of bacteria left on the hands after washing and provides antibacterial protection for 30 minutes afterwards, unlike popular products such as alcohol-based hand-sanitizers and antibacterial soaps.

As nanoparticles are increasingly being used in commercial products it becomes more and more important to understand how they interact with living organisms and the environment. Nanoparticles are known to selectively absorb proteins¹ (to form a coat known as the 'protein corona') and DNA molecules², so being able to predict how and which proteins and other biologically important species are adsorbed, and understanding more about these interactions, should help us to reduce any adverse impacts of nanoparticles on human health and the environment. (Nature Nanotechnology 5, 633 - 634 (2010)

Rice straw pulping trials were carried out with aqueous ammonia mixed with caustic potash to eliminate problems associated with black liquor in nonwood pulping. This process likely can use the black liquor, which contains nitrogen, potassium, and ammoniacal lignin, as a fertilizer for agricultural production. Excess ammonia in the black liquor was recovered by batch distillation. The black liquor was further treated for reuse by coagulation under alkaline conditions. Effects of flocculating conditions, such as dosage of 10% aluminum polychloride, dosage of 0.1% polyacrylamide, reaction temperature, and pH of black liquor to obtain suitable technological conditions were studied. Analyses confirmed that major quantities of lignin and 23.7% nitrogen (dried basis), 6.2% potassium (dried basis) existed in the flocculating residues, so this is potentially a good solid fertilizer. The amount of delignification and the pulp screen yield for the process remained steady at 83%-85% and 38%-40%, respectively, when reusing the supernatant four times. The black liquor problem associated with nonwood pulping can potentially be turned into a benefit through this environmentally friendly rice straw pulping process. (TAPPI J., Aug.2010)

The use of Fourier-transform Near-Infrared spectrometry (FT-NIR) has been made for on-line measurement of green liquor compositions, such as TTA, EA, carbonate, sulphide, sulphate, thiosulphate, and reduction efficiency (RE) in raw green liquor. The technical feasibility of using this analyzer as an on-line monitoring system for dissolving tank TTA control as well as for reduction efficiency monitoring has been demonstrated during normal mill operation as well as for simulated upset conditions. FT-NIR data for TTA has tracked well with dissolver density values. In addition, FT-NIR reduction-efficiency data has been correlated to changes in black-liquor solids content; primary air flow and black-liquor firing rate. Online TTA control could help stabilize TTA which will stabilize recausticization operations. The ability to monitor reduction efficiency online will provide operators with better understanding of boiler conditions that lead to “poor” conditions with high TRS and dead-load.( PAP-TAC Online news July 2010)

Domtar Corporation and FPInnovations have formed a new joint venture company to build the world's first one metric ton per day commercial-scale nanocrystalline cellulose demonstration plant at the Domtar Windsor, Quebec pulp and paper mill site. Construction will begin SOON and will take approximately 20 months to be completed.This is an important milestone cumulating over 15 years of R&D investments towards the future development of fiber-based products for the industrial world. During this time FPInnovations developed an extensive intellectual property portfolio around the manufacturing and application of nanocrystalline cellulose

Specially treated waste material from electric power plants will soon be used to clean up oil in the Gulf according to University of Central Florida. The fly ash will be safe, preserve the oil’s energy-generating capabilities and be reusable once the oil is burned off.  The fly ash has also shown the ability to clump oil that has already washed up on shore, enabling it to be easily collected and, again, reused.   

Water use in paper production has been reduced by around 85% during the last 30 years to an average of around 20m³/short ton of paper, according to figures from Kemira. Within some closed-circuit water systems, particularly in areas of water scarcity, the consumption can be under 5m³/short ton. At the same time, pulp and paper companies have been substantially decreasing their energy consumption, which is closely related to levels of water use.

Canada-based Domtar and FPInnovations announced a new joint venture to build world’s first Nanocrystalline Cellulose (NCC) demonstration plant (1 tpd) at the Windsor QC pulp and paper mill site. For commercial production, it may take about 20 months for the construction work. The base material will be pulp fibres for NCC. According to Domtar, the properties of NCC will provide new opportunities in a wide range of applications for a variety of sectors and markets, including aerospace, automotive, chemical, textile and forest products. It can impart unique properties that can improve paper characteristics and lead to creation of novel biocomposite materials.

Researchers at Oregon State University and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory have discovered a new way to apply nanostructure coatings to make heat transfer far more efficient, with important potential applications to high tech devices as well as the conventional heating and cooling industry. These coatings can remove heat four times faster than the same materials before they are coated, using inexpensive materials and application procedures. The discovery has the potential to revolutionize cooling technology. The improvement in heat transfer achieved by modifying surfaces at the nanoscale has possible applications in both micro- and macro-scale industrial systems, researchers said. The coatings produced a "heat transfer coefficient" 10 times higher than uncoated surfaces. This nanoscale-level coating of zinc oxide on top of a copper plate holds the potential to dramatically increase heat transfer characteristics and lead to a revolution in heating and cooling technology. Heat exchange has been a significant issue in many mechanical devices since the Industrial Revolution.

Unilever has published its sustainable paper and board packaging sourcing policy as part of its commitment to double the size of the business while reducing its environmental impact. The policy outlines the company’s goal to work with its suppliers to source 75 per cent of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or from recycled material by 2015, rising to 100 per cent by 2020.The commitment makes Unilever the first global FMCG company to commit to sourcing all of its paper and board packaging from sustainably managed forests or recycled material within a clearly defined timeframe.

A comprehensive multi-index pulping-suitability evaluation model is investigated in this paper by considering four fast-growing wood species. First, a new evaluation-index system for kraft pulp was developed based on traditional evaluation-index systems. Then, the membership degree of every index was analyzed to obtain a fuzzy matrix. The proportional contribution of each parameter to the main pulping properties could then be determined. Finally, a comprehensive evaluation model of kraft pulp properties was developed. The model is reliable compared with traditional assessment methods. The results confirmed the feasibility and rationality of developing new wood cellulose resources and fast-growing pulpwood plantations using fuzzy comprehensive evaluations. A comprehensive multi-index kraft pulping suitability evaluation model was successfully developed in this study. This model provides an objective reflection of kraft pulp quality. The result confirms the feasibility and rationality of fuzzy comprehensive evaluation.(June 2010)

The effectiveness of thermal, caustic, and sonication pretreatment methods was examined in improving anaerobic conversion to biogas of secondary sludge samples obtained from a kraft mill and a sulfite mill. All three methods improved the anaerobic digestion rate and the biogas yield of the sludge samples. Thermal pretreatment was the most effective, followed closely by caustic pretreatment, and sonication the least. The total biogas productions per unit of chemical oxygen demand of sulfite sludge and kraft sludge samples were respectively 1.2 and 3 times higher with pretreatments than without. Also, the biogas production from the untreated sulfite mill sludge was 4 times higher than that from the untreated kraft mill sludge.The soluble carbohydrate content in sludge correlates well with the biogas yield and can be used to predict the biogas production potential of the secondary sludge.(Tappi J, June 2010)

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Mechanics of Materials IWM in Halle, Germany, have created a new generation of filtration membranes: They developed ceramic membranes with a uniform pore structure and a very tight and even pore size distribution. Compared to the ceramic membranes they, they offer better mechanical stability and considerably higher flow rates. As a result, for the first time they are also able to replace polymer membranes. These membranes guarantee much more reliable filtration results than polymer membranes do. Electron microscope images of the membranes prove: The pores are regularly aligned alongside one another like the honeycombs in a beehive, one identical to the next. The pore diameters can be varied between 15 and 450 nanometers.

Rengo Co.in Japan commences operations from  10^th May 2010  at the Fukushima Yabuki Plant employs an integrated production line—from corrugated board manufacturing to the converting of various types of corrugated boxes—using cutting-edge production equipment and an advanced production management system that combine product quality with energy efficiency. At the same time, the new plant brings together all of the environmental technology and expertise in resource and energy efficiency that Rengo has developed to date, from supplying all of its daytime electricity needs through solar power generated from approximately 9,000 solar panels to its use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as boiler fuel. Utilization of these innovations is expected to cut CO2 emissions by 40% compared to the old Koriyama Plant.

In a Seminar in London on 29^th June 2010 (The Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum's event), it was expressed that the use of nanotechnology in packaging can help the UK reduce the huge amount of food it wastes. About the 8.3 million tonnes of food thrown away by consumers every year. According to Use of nanotechnology, such as nanoclays, can make a big difference by making packaging lighter, stronger and better at preserving food for longer. Other attributes that Groves hopes nanotechnology will bestow on packaging include degradability, smart filtering of allergens and free radicals, and hygienic coatings. Already in production are intelligent sensors which indicate whether the contents have spoilt, which will prove to be very useful as they give a more scientific basis to the sell-by date.

Nanotechnology is already being used in many consumer applications, such as automotive parts. In packaging,nanomaterials are used as a gas barrier in beer bottles. About the safety of nanotechnology, there are numerous examples of nanostructures in the natural world to which people are exposed without any ill effects. UK government tests on nanotech packaging showed no release of nanoparticles, which are embedded within the polymer system.

Recyclability was another concern. Nanoclays are used in such small quantities that they did not pose a problem in the recycling chain. The situation with nanostarch and nanocellulose was not clear cut and more research was needed.

The progress and prospects of nanotechnology are enormous and paper industry cannot afford to ignore the possibility of benefitting from these developments. Paper Industry is considered to be a fertile ground for the growth of nanotechnology. Areas where Nanotechnology has made access are:

Genetically Engineered Trees: Regular eucalyptus trees are usually cut down after seven years, during which they grow to a height of 20 meters. Trees treated with CBD can reach that height in 3 years or less.  

Stock Preparation: Increasing replacement of fibre by mineral fillers is of high economical interest as the fibre cost is about one third that of fibres. One third of paper produced in China is understood to be mineral; 30-35% of mineral can replace fibre content in the paper. A number of mills claim to have been running their systems using micro-particle technology. The micro-particles are bentonite and colloidal silica, characterized essentially by their large surface area per unit of weight. A nanoparticle weight of 5 grams, , could represent up to an acre of surface area.

The colloidal silica having a spherical shape with an average diameter of 5 nm, with a surface area of 500-800 m²/g and exhibiting a very high anionic surface charge. Fibrous cationic colloidal alumina micro particles with polymer and high performance purified natural zeolite pigment have also  been reported.

Recently, a new technology named as Micropolymer technology has been reported. It employs cationic and anionic micropolymers, which are synthesized using a controlled molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide polymerized within a coagulant matrix.

3)   Nanoparticle-driven paper machines: According to one industry estimate, there are over 1,000 nanoparticle-driven paper machines in use today. The most important property attribution is the retention and drainage, which leads to better runnability and fewer breaks, thus increasing the productivity. Better formation, dry strength and optical properties of the end products are made possible by nano technology. Increased production and reduced steam consumption are the tangible benefits to the mill.

4)   Calender rolls: Nanotechnology has led to developments for improving the wear resistance, impact toughness, and surface finish of roll covers.      Metso’s new press section consists of PressJade D, W and F ceramic coatings that are engineered for specific paper and board grades. The nanomaterial composition of the coating has boosted hardness and wear resistance by http://www.industrypaper.net:80/20% along with increase in impact resistance.The new coating raw material is a special ceramic-ceramic nanocomposite           

Nanopearl was recently developed by Voith, which has advantage over all other traditional products with lesser cost and lesser power consumption .The nanopearl filled paper has unrivalled quality.Slide showing Nanopearl covers with nanotechnology fillers.

5)   Fillers and Pigments: Today, narrow particle size distribution kaolin from Middle Georgia, England and as-mined Brazilian clays are offering new possibilities in coating engineering. This makes it possible to use technologies developed in the world of liquid crystals and colloid chemistry, for example, to allow a self-assembly of the components to take place.With the help of high resolution Field emission scan­ning electron microscope and improvised systems for crude mineral resources, coated properties can be improved by decreasing kaolin platelets to a thickness below 100 nm.

The AFM image exhibits the atomic structure of kaolinite clay mineral, where the atomic units (0.535nm), schematized in the right hand side, can be clearly seen. So far, we had not directly seen the hexagonal units of kaolin.

GCC is a typical example of producing fine materials by top-down method by fine grinding of the natural mineral such as marble, chalk etc. On the other hand, PCC is synthetically prepared, approximating to the bottom-up method and thus there is possibility of controlling the particle size and brightness etc. 

Nano product of talc, platy in morphology with specific surface area of 270 m²/g and average particle size of 70-120 nm (0.07-0.12 µm) have been produced, having enhanced properties.

6)   Packaging: Better and more specific performance of barriers and protective coatings in packaging materials and addition of functional properties, such as sensory and anti-microbial qualities, are important features for food packaging. Improved barrier properties may be obtained by the use of clay-based nanocomposites as films and coatings.

The LSA system (Laser Surface Authentication system recognises the inherent fingerprint within paper, plastic, metal and ceramics. It  tries to identify the equivalent of a fingerprint, iris-scan, or other biometric of a document or packaging, for item-level self tagging and then base this biometric on naturally occurring microscopic randomness that cannot be controlled by anybody.

7)   Nanopaper: A new kind of nanopaper stronger than cast iron and tougher than bone has been reported, which could be used to reinforce conventional paper, produce extra-strong sticky tape or help create tough synthetic replacements for biological tissues. It can be used to make tough packaging material, filters, membranes, and even car and aircraft parts and medical implants.

8)   Conductive paper: A layer-by-layer assembly of poly (3,4 ethylenedioxythiophene)-polysterene sulphonate (PEDOT-PSS) on lignocelluloses wood microfibers was used to make conductive fibres and paper. The conductivity of microfiber increased linearly with increasing number of bilayers of PEDOT-PSS. The measured conductivities ranged from 1 to 10 S cm^-1.

9)   Tissue paper: Tissue paper contains micro structures which are vital for the overall properties, namely bulk and antibacterial property.

10) Antibacterial Paper: Some paper and other products incorporating inorganic antibacterial agents are already in the market. Antibacterial paper has a promising future as it can serve for arresting the Hospital acquired infections.

11) Whisker from agro-residue: A new process, termed as Substrate mechanism, has been reported for formation of silicon carbide whiskers from rice husk and oxides such as alumina and titania as well as aluminosilicates starting from agro residues.

Clearwater Paper Corporation has plans to build a Through-Air-Dried (TAD) paper machine and seven converting lines capable of producing ultra grades of private label tissue products. The company is moving forward with construction of a 200-inch TAD tissue machine, together with a total of seven converting lines. The total cost for the new facility is expected to be approximately $260 to $280 million, which includes the two new converting lines. At full production capacity the facility will produce approximately 10 million cases or 70,000 tons of bathroom tissue and household towels annually.
Clearwater Paper manufactures quality consumer tissue, bleached paperboard and wood products at six facilities across the country. The company is a premier supplier of private label tissue to major retail grocery chains, and also produces bleached paperboard used by quality-conscious printers and packaging converters. It has  2,400 employees.

In August 2009 Metso acquired Pacific International, a division of the Pacific/Hoe Saw & Knife Company,   pioneer in thermal spray technology for doctor, coating and creping blades, and blade manufacturing. This, combined with Metso’s know-how in the coating process, takes ceramic blade usability to a completely new level. Metso is known as a reliable partner in doctoring with a wide range of high-quality doctor blades from glass fiber to plastics, and from metal to carbon fiber. ValEco, ValPro, ValRX, ValCar, ValGlass, to mention a few, are globally-known doctor blade products. With the Pacific acquisition, the newest members of the doctoring product portfolio are the ValBrite C and ValBronze A ceramic doctor blades. During 2009 Metso has also introduced carbide coated steel doctor blades to ceramic roll applications.

PermaCote coater blades are high-quality ceramic-coated blades. The product family contains all types of ceramic-edged coater blades, including carbide and chrome oxide blades, which are the latest design. Ceramic-edged coater blades provide longer run-times and improved paper quality, resulting in improved operating efficiency and quality, and decreased overall expenses also with printing paper grades.

The Direct Drive System (DDS) is based on the Permanent Magnet synchronous motor technology, developed by the ABB engineers Jouni Ikaheimo, Vesa Kajander and Bengt Welin. The Finland based ABB Automation was  awarded the 2009 Marcus Wallenberg Prize. It provides improved torque characteristics, precise speed control and high efficiency without the need of gear boxes, pulse encoders or auxiliary components. It also delivers a better running ability and availability while reducing overall lifecycle costs. The DDS cuts electricity and oil consumption, reduces noise levels and provides enhanced safety. It applied to all larger paper machines (wire width of more than 5metre). The DDS could reduce energy consumption by more than 1200 Wh worldwide, which is equivalent to the output of two entire coal-fired power plants.

Based on UPM's own research and business development, the recycled and further recyclable wood plastic composite UPM ProFi is an example of UPM's innovative thinking and total lifecycle approach. As the frontrunner of the new forest industry and the Biofore Company, UPM adds value through the use of wood fibre to create new and sustainable products. The UPM ProFi wood plastic composite is a durable and hard-wearing material with low moisture absorption and exceptional UV light resistance. These intrinsic characteristics make the material highly suitable for outdoor applications such as decking, cladding or several others. The construction industry has a wide range of products and applications where durability and good weather resistance play an important role. UPM ProFi is a material innovation for which we want to continue to develop new end uses together with our customers, designers and architects. The product is exhibited in the Shanghai World Expo, which will be hosted between 1 May and 31 October 2010.

Arboform bioplastic was developed by Pfitzer and Nägele while working at the Fraunhofer ICT research organisation in Germany. It takes lignin - the rigid component in wood and a by-product of pulp and paper-making - and combines it with resins, flax and other natural fibres to create a compound that can be processed as a thermoplastic by injection moulding. This technology own the European Inventor Award. The Arboform material as a breakthrough in the sustainable use of renewable resources. The Arboform material can be used to produce durable moulded components which can, at the end of their life, be biodegraded. It also makes use of a raw material – lignin – which would otherwise be burnt or used in low value animal feeds. Last year produced 275 tonnes of Arboform and a range of other biodegradable and renewable plastic compounds. Arboform, which costs from around €2.5/kg, has drawn considerable interest from the automotive industry for its ability to replicate the finish and feel of wood in three-dimensional parts. It has also been used to produce designer loudspeaker casings and golf tees.

When it comes to shipping materials, product needs to arrive undamaged. That was the challenge faced by the Coated Products Operations of Green Bay Packaging, which ships rolls of its pressure-sensitive label material from Green Bay, WI, to Mexico, Canada, and across the US. Utilizing rail for shipments makes sense economically, but the jolting starts and side-to-side rocking motion of boxcars sometimes caused wood wedges to loosen from pallets, allowing rolls to move against the metal banding used to secure them. The large rolls, which measure 52-60 in. long, sometimes sustained heavy damage from friction with the metal banding. The rocking movement also put pressure on a customized honeycombed wedge product, causing it to fail.

The full-roll-support cradle is made from recycled corrugated molded pulp. The density of the molded pulp reportedly has less dusting compared to similar cradles made from honeycomb material. For Green Bay Packaging, all that is necessary is to set the Rollguard cradle on the pallet and place the roll in the cradle. Next, two bands are placed across the roll lengthwise to secure the roll and the cradle to the pallet. Because plastic bands are used, no band padding is required. As a final step, stretch wrap is applied to the entire pallet to protect the outer layers of the label material and further unitize the load.

The previous method of palletizing was more labour intensive, requiring the nailing of wood wedges to the pallets. This also posed problems after shipment because the pallets had to be disassembled. In some cases this damaged the pallets, which resulted in disposal and repair issues. There also was the added hurdle of making sure all the wood that was used was kiln dried to ensure it was bug-free in order to ship into Mexico.

Global Green USA’s Coalition for Resource Recovery (CoRR) has begun implementation of the second phase of a food-packaging project designed to recycle paper cups and fast food packaging, along with corrugated cardboard, into valuable, high-quality materials. The pilot, a collaboration between CoRR and New York city-area based educational institutions Pratt Institute and The New School, involves recycling paper coffee cups. The New School’s café. According to data cited by CoRR, every year, 58 billion paper cups are used in the U.S. at restaurants, events, and homes. If all paper cups in the U.S. were recycled, 645,000 tons of waste would be diverted from landfills each year, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2.5 million mt CO₂e, equivalent to removing 450,000 passenger cars from the road. If successful, CoRR says the pilot could influence the design of all paper food packaging, potentially increasing the benefits above by ten-fold.

Two-dimensional, "sheet-like" nanostructures are commonly employed in biological systems such as cell membranes, and their unique properties have inspired interest in materials such as graphene. Now, Berkeley Lab scientists have made the largest two-dimensional polymer crystal self-assembled in water to date. This entirely new material mirrors the structural complexity of biological systems with the durable architecture needed for membranes or integration into functional devices.

The dyeing behaviour of polyester fibres in the presence of nanoclay and nanosilica by means of clay and silica minerals at nanoscale were studied. Temperatures of 1300C or higher used in industrial methods for dyeing polyester fibres demand high costs and the resulting products are not qualitatively acceptable. Therefore, considerable efforts are made to decrease these temperatures.Scientists in Islamic Azad University's Science and Research branch claim to have synthesized polyester nanocomposites by melt methods and investigated different properties of them involving surface and internal ones by different laboratory methods. Afterwards, polyester fibres were yielded by an optimized method and dyed at normal temperature and pressure.

The peculiarity of this product is that the wire clothing has been replaced: EvoRun C runs with the BlackStone rubber cover instead. The crucial benefit of this change is the considerably longer lifetime compared to earlier solutions with wire clothing. In Frastanz paper mill in Austria, service life increased from six to more than 24 months and the first regrinding of the BlackStone rubber cover was required after more than two years. Since lifetime was four times longer than usual, operating costs went down considerably for the paper mill. A service life of eight years is expected for the cover. Every six months, the wire clothing of the old couch roll had to be replaced with a new one. In addition, the new couch roll design has had a positive influence on top wire life. After the successful start-up , a technology comparison before/after the rebuild was made. Most importantly, all technological parameters (such as SCT or breaking length) remained as good as they were. The product has been running successfully in Frastanz Paper Mill of Rondo Ganahl.

An economically feasible wet-mechanochemical process as milling pretreatment has been developed, which can unravel cellulosic components into nanoscale fibers. The nanofibrous product , obtained this way showed a high enzymatic accessibility, while keeping the cellulose crystalline structure and the lignin content. This process is based on the understanding of the nanoscopic structural characteristics of wood and cellulose. In the mechanochemical treatment, enzymatic saccharification and fermentation progress efficiently without the chemical treatments such as lignin removal. Also, dependency on raw material is low and the process can be applied as the pretreatment of hardwoods, softwoods, straws, and others. The greatest advantage is the reduction in the cost of enzymes such as cellulase, which in some cases dominate over half the cost of bioethanol production. The mechanochemically treated products can be sufficiently saccharified with relatively small amount of enzymes.

The new system uses hog fuel at 5-60% moisture content, in gasifiers that process the fuel much more efficiently and cleanly. Two gasifiers will convert biomass into clean-burning syngas, which is then transferred to an ignition chamber coupled directly to a watertube boiler. Capacity of the system will be 40,000 pounds/hour of medium pressure process steam, destined for a variety of uses on the site.The direct-fired gasification system was developed by Nexterra Energy Systems, which has been making steady inroads into clean renewable energy systems for the wood products industry in recent years. The custom-designed installation for the Kruger project is described as the first of its kind to demonstrate the direct-firing of an industrial process boiler with a synthetic gas, or "syngas," produced from gasification of wood residues.

A LignoBoost plant needs two vertical plate pressure filters to dewater and wash the lignin. Metso developed these filters for the high demands of the mineral industry. This means the equipment successfully combines top performance and high-level automation with easy maintenance and low total cost. LignoBoost works in conjunction with evaporation, first by precipitating lignin and sodium from the black liquor by lowering the pH with CO2. The precipitate is dewatered by using a filter press. LignoBoost then overcomes conventional filtering and sodium separation problems by re-dissolving the lignin with wash water and acid. The resulting slurry is once again dewatered and washed to produce virtually pure lignin cakes. The lignin can be exported or,after final drying, used as fuel in the lime kiln.

LignoBoost represents a technology that extracts lignin, a component of natural wood,from the chemicals used in the pulping process. The extracted lignin can be used as biofuel, replacing coal and oil, e.g. in pulp mill power generation or in lime kilns. The potential saving is 50 l of fuel oil per ton of pulp (5,000 m3 of oil per 100,000 tons of pulp).LignoBoost gives Metso’s customers the possibility to increase pulp mill capacity and turn pulp mills into significant energy suppliers. At the same the extracted lignin is also of interest to other process industries as a raw material for plastics, carbon fibers and chemicals.

Russian pulp and paperboard producer JSC Vyborgskaya cellulose plans to build a 900,000 ton per year wood pelleting facility on the same site as its pulp and paper mill in Vyborg district, Leningrad region, Russia. Andritz has been contracted to supply the process equipment for the plant, which is expected to start up in the third quarter of 2010. Vyborgskaya cellulose produces unbleached softwood sulfite pulp and white top linerboard.

Weyerhaeuser Company and Mitsubishi Corp. have signed a Strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore the possibilities of collaborating in the biomass-to-energy business. The companies are specifically interested in assessing the feasibility of jointly investing in and operating a commercial-scale bio-pellet production facility in the United States by 2011. Bio-pellets would be produced using wood based biomass, targeted from U.S.-sourced sustainably managed forest resources or by-products and sold to utilities and industrial users for energy production. Mitsubishi currently operates two bio-pellet facilities in Japan and is also actively involved in the management of Vis Nova Trading GmbH, a major producer of bio-pellets in Germany.

Pulp Production capacity of leading pulp producers in the world

(in million metric tonnes/year):

Fibria                           5.8

Arauco                         3.5      

APRIL                           2.75

Sodra                            2.2

Suzano                         2.05

Stora                              1.9

Weyerhaeuser             1.9

CMPC                            1.9

APP                                1.8

Ilim                                 1.7

Mercer International    1.6

Ga Pacific                      1.5

International Paper      1.5

ENCE                              1.4

West Fraser                   1.4

Cenibra                           1.3

Metso-Botnia                  1.2

A new type of softwood Kraft pulp (Pearl®429) is produced using a continuous Kraft process versus a batch process used to make many other specialty pulps. Weyerhaeuser Company’s Cellulose Fibers business segment has successfully introduced this grade. Cellulose derivatives are used in various products, including lacquers, paints, inks, and thickening agents. This pulp offers tailored reactivity and viscosity compared with traditional Kraft pulps. This new product can be blended with other pulps and has the potential to partially replace traditional chemical grade dissolving pulps for many chemical applications. The pulp’s characteristics allow it to be used in a variety of applications using cellulose esters and ethers.

A low-cost technology for paper-battery is under development at Stanford University in California (USA). They have successfully turned paper coated with ink made of silver and carbon nanomaterials into a "paper battery" that holds promise for new types of lightweight, high-performance energy storage.The same feature that helps ink adhere to paper allows it to hold onto the single-walled carbon nanotubes and silver nanowire films. This type of battery could be useful in powering electric or hybrid vehicles, would make electronics lighter weight and longer lasting, and might even lead someday to paper electronics. Battery weight and life have been an obstacle to commercial viability of electric-powered cars and trucks. The paper batteries and supercapacitors can be very low cost, they are also good for grid-connected energy storage. The technology could be commercialized within a short time.

A food Company with Rutgers University and the University of Connecticut in USA are developing a special nanoparticle film, which can be introduced in packaging that can warn consumers when food becomes unsafe for consumption by changing colour. Researchers in The Netherlands are also experimenting with a nanotechnology “bio-switch” that will release preservatives if food spoilage is detected.

Ordinary paper could one day be used as a lightweight battery to power the devices that are now enabling the printed word to be eclipsed by e-mail, e-books and online news. Scientists at Stanford University in California have reported on the 7^th Dec.2009 that they have successfully turned paper coated with ink made of silver and carbon nano-materials into a “paper-battery” that holds promise for new types of  lightweight and high performance energy storage. The same feature that helps ink adhere to paper allows it to hold onto the single-walled carbon-nano tubes and silver nanowire films. Earlier research found that silicon nanowires could be used to make batteries 10 times as powerful as lithium-ion batteries now used to power devices such as laptop computers. This type of battery could be useful in powering electric or hybrid vehicles, would make electronics lighter weight and longer lasting and might even lead someday to paper electronics. (Prof. Peidong Yang, Prof.of Chemistry, Univ. of California- Proc.Natl.Acad.Sci.)

Battelle and Boise Inc. in USA will conduct the first-ever feasibility study of new carbon capture and storage technology in the pulp, paper, and paperboard industry, under a US$500,000 project announced by the U.S. Department of Energy. This project will focus on capture technology developed by Fluor Corporation and will take place at Boise's pulp and paper mill near Wallula, Washington. This study will provide an opportunity to assess the feasibility of safely and permanently storing CO₂ in deep underground basalt formations for a commercial-scale operation. Boise is interested in capturing carbon dioxide emissions from a recovery boiler that emits about 495,000 tons of the gas a year. The plant uses black liquor, a byproduct of the process that transforms wood into pulp for making paper, as fuel rather than burning fossil fuels.

Black liquor is considered carbon neutral because carbon dioxide released during fuel use mimics the same natural cycle that occurs in the forest when trees decompose and release their carbon. Capturing the carbon would make the process carbon negative, potentially offsetting carbon release in other industries.

A new generation of papers for the xerographic process, called Silver Image Laserm has been launched by M-real Zanders mill in Germany. Silver Image Laser is a wood free special coated paper range, optimized for full colour digital copying and printing,   available in matt, gloss (two-side coated) and supergloss (cast coated). The new paper range has been successfully tested with various digital four color printers and copier machines from a variety of manufacturers.

ITC Ltd is targeting a Rs 1,000-crore turnover from its stationery business in three to five years, led by new product launches targeting school children and institutions. It’s current revenue from this business stands at Rs 280 crore. ITC is also talking to corporates with its promise of green technology backing its paper. ITC is  targeting a Rs 1,000-crore business in three to five years. It has already ‘Classmate’ brand of notebooks for children and ‘PaperKraft’ brand for professionals and offices. It intends to launch a new range of geometry boxes, pens and pencils, and other stationery products in order to reach the target. ITC would also double our distribution network in two years. Currently, it has  750 distributors who make its products available in over 70,000 outlets in India.

The straightforward design, with few moving parts, guarantees reliable performance and a minimum of maintenance. It is used as a separate sensor for one measurement position. No extra samplers are needed, compared to other fibre analysing systems on the market that are based on sampling from several positions and batch handling. Together with the product portfolio it offers a unique combination of quality measurement applications from the beginning of the pulp process, through the papermaking process and finally to the testing of the actual paper.

Voith Paper’s WebNet technology has improved the Dewatering Process by developing two new suction roll covers: AquaFlow and SolarFlow. Using advanced bonding systems, these new covers can simultaneously achieve the highest levels of dryness and save energy. For many years, the aerospace and automotive industries have used a special bonding process, known as the Interpenetrated Network (IPN), to connect different types of polymers.  Voith Paper is using a similar process in its WebNet technology to create the newest generation of suction roll covers. Thanks to the three dimensional interlinking of individual polymers, the interface between these new covers and the roll shell is even stronger. As a result, these new covers are also much more resilient offering far greater resistance to temperature changes as well as chemical and mechanical stress. This technology will replace the already successful AST-bonding layer which was developed in the 1990s.

WebNet technology plays a key role in the construction of these innovative roll covers. Surrounding the roll’s metal shell and interface is a fiber-reinforced multi layer base with marginally thicker construction and higher structural elasticity. WebNet technology links the roll’s multi layer base with the cover’s polyurethane top stock, which Voith Paper also improved for both its AquaFlow and SolarFlow covers. Because of the covers’ high-density molecular structure, their elasticity, mechanical stability, abrasion resistance, as well as their hydrolytic characteristics, have been significantly improved. Recently, the advantages of these new polyurethane covers were demonstrated at the Leinfelder Paper Mill in Schwedt, Germany, where linerboard is produced. In the press section of PM 3, the dewatering process was improved by 1 percent.

The advance quality control system was integrated with kajaaniMAP and kajaaniTQA analysers to provide on-line quality measurements for the management of the pulp quality. It started as a trial project for the main line refiners and then was expanded to include impregnation, screening and reject refining. The purchase of the main line refining advance control was based upon a reduction in specific energy of 4 % and quality variability of 40 %.

Canadian Pulp and Paper producers who invest in improved energy efficiency and environmental performance may qualify for funding from a new, $1-billion Pulp and Paper Green Transformation Program.This new funding will help ensure that Canada has a pulp and paper sector that is both commercially and environmentally sustainable for years to come. The Green Transformation Program intends to provide funding of $0.16 per litre of black liquor, up to a maximum program total of $1 billion. Eligible companies participating in the Green Transformation Program will be required to invest these funds over the next three years in capital expenditures that make improvements to energy efficiency or environmental performance on any pulp and paper mill in Canada, including mechanical mills.

The Advantage DCT 100TS supplied by Metso is a crescent former type tissue machine that started up in September 2006. The design speed of the 2.6-m-wide machine is 2,200 m/min, and its production of bathroom tissue, napkin and towel grades is based on 100% recycled furnish.

Chennai Petroleum Corporation Ltd  inaugurated its Rs 244-crore, 5.8 MGD sea water desalination plant. The plant takes sea water and processes it into water fit for industrial use. The cost of the water works out to 3 paise, half of what CPCL was paying Chennai Water Supply until about a month ago.

Govt of India  is planning to develop 'Solar Cities' to reduce around 10 per cent usage of conventional energy sources through renewable energy installations and energy efficiency. "The Ministry of New and Renewable Energy is implementing a programme on 'Development of solar cities' aimed at reducing minimum of 10 per cent of the projected demand of conventional energy of the city through energy efficiency measures and renewable energy installations. During the 11th Plan period, a total of 60 cities are proposed to be developed as 'Solar Cities', including two model cities. The Centre was providing financial support up to Rs 50 lakh for each solar city to the respective state governments for preparation of a master plan, awareness generation and capacity building activities.

Energy demand in Asia to reach 6,325 million tonne of oil equivalent (mtoe) by 2030 from 3,227 mtoe in 2006, according to Asian Development Bank. China and India will account major shares. Rapid economic and population growth will drive much of the increase in energy demand. Industrialisation, urbanisation, and the replacement of noncommercial biomass fuels by commercial fuels will also contribute to increase demand.

The Optidry Vertical Impingement dryer from Metso, supplied to Steibeis papier Gluckstadt in Germany gives additional drying capacity to increase the production capacity by 15% and the machine speed by 175m/min. This system is a rebuild concept to add drying capacity in the dryer section, thus making it possible to enhance production and speed. There is no need of increasing machine length and requires minimal rebuild of the current dryer. The Steinbeis papier produces (4.6m wide, PM 4) magazine paper for heat set web offset printing and multifunctional papers for office use from 100% receovered paper with a grammage range of 57-90g/m².

The WWF’s (Global Wildlife Fund) Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN) accreditation to ITC will enable ITC to certify its fibre to credible standards and offer customers, like in the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). GFTN was launched in India in December 2008 to stop illegal logging and bring in improvement in forest management. The products may include packaging boards and paper products like Paperkraft copier and notebooks etc.

K.R.Pulp at Shahjanpur of Uttar Pradesh is going to expand with an investment of 250 crores of rupees. The new plant with capacity of 350 tpd will have  ECF technology and automations from Voith ,Ruby Macons, Andritz Kusters , Globe Radio, Dorr Oliver,ABB and Siemens.

The Raytek CM sensor is designed to measure target temperatures ranging from -20°C to 500°C.  Its onboard electronics are protected by a rugged IP 65 stainless steel housing, allowing the sensor to function in ambient temperatures to 70°C without cooling.

The Advantage DCT 100TS supplied by Metso is a crescent former type tissue machine with the design speed of the 2.6-m-wide machine is 2,200 m/min for production of bathroom tissue, napkin and towel grades from  100% recycled furnish.

Nanotechnology application in roll coating is reported by Voith; the products being  NanoPearl and Terra gloss. The new NanoPearl cover family is equipped with a filler system that is unique in particle size distribution and homogeneity. The average particle size measures only ten to 20 nm. This is a breakthrough in an industrial application. The new technology offers the key to considerably improved mechanical and thermal properties.

The application area is in calender roll cover.  The TerraGloss thermal coating for hard calender rolls has contributed to line load reduction and improved two-sidedness of the paper. TerraGloss is the new thermal coating for hard calender rolls. Numerous field tests have shown that the structure of TerraGloss coatings increases and can even double operation time, as well as reduce the line load and the heating power. This leads to energy savings of up to 30%. TerraGloss is highly resistant to chemical and mechanical effects. Therefore, the coating is extremely wear resistant. TerraGloss provides advantages in high-end multi-nip calendars, common calendars, graphic papermaking and the board and packaging segment.

The recovery rate of paper in India is less than 20 per cent compared to Europe and USA who are above 60 per cent. There is a need to create awareness among people in order to procure more raw materials for recycled paper and paperboards from within the country. ITC imports 20,000 tonnes of waste paper. People should be made aware of source segregation. Source segregation into paper, glass, metal, plastics etc will help greatly and will reduce the pressure on municipal landfills. A waste paper can be ideally recycled 7-8 times by mixing a bit of fibre each time. Recycling not only saves energy, water and money for the country but also saves the municipal landfills from paper burial that occupies space and increases carbon footprint by emitting methane.