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6 INDUSTRY NEWS


Award for modified hardwood pulp research


Winner of Valmet’s Tissue Technology Award this year was Abdus Salam, a Graduate Student from North Carolina State University in the US. The US$25,000 award was


presented at the Tissue World Conference, Barcelona, Spain in March. The Award promotes the


work of university students and scientists in the development of environmentally sound products applicable to the tissue making process. The award is granted every second year and the winner is selected by a panel of jurors representing universities, scientific organisations and Valmet.


The focus for the award this year


was environmental efficiency. Abdus Salam was awarded for his work on modified hardwood pulp for tissue production. The objective of his work has been to develop a method to provide unique tissue characteristics using only natural materials. By modifying hardwood pulp, it can be cross-linked with a biodegradable product to greatly improve absorbency properties. The modified fibres are elastic, very soft, highly porous and durable, and also have microbial properties. Accepting the award from Anders Björn, Vice President of


Valmet’s Tissue Mills business unit, Salam said: “I greatly appreciate the award committee’s selection of my research for the Valmet Tissue Technology Award of 2015. This is my first international award which has truly inspired me to develop new products and ideas for tissue and paper towel applications. I believe the research developments related to modifying hardwood pulp can significantly contribute to the personal health care sector as well as the global economy.” Björn commented: “We are


constantly searching for new innovations to make the tissue process more sustainable and


environmentally efficient. Mr Salam’s innovation is well in line with our strategy and shows how biomaterials can be utilized to add new and improved properties to tissue products. This is an excellent example of how scientists and the academic world can contribute to the important work of developing sustainable solutions for the future of tissue- making.”


Nanocellulose pilot plant to be started up by Sappi Commenting on the decision,


A pilot-scale plant for the production of low-cost nanocellulose is to be built by Sappi at Brightlands Chemelot Campus in Sittard-Geleen in the Netherlands. The plant will be used to


test the production of dry re- dispersible Cellulose NanoFibrils (CNF) using proprietary technology developed by South Africa-based Sappi and Edinburgh Napier University. Products produced using Sappi’s CNF will be suitable for conversion in lighter and stronger fibre-reinforced composites and plastics, in food and pharmaceutical applications, and in rheology modifiers as well as in barrier and other paper and coating applications. The raw material for the pilot


plant would be supplied from any of Sappi’s Saiccor, Ngodwana


March/April 2015


and Cloquet dissolving wood pulp plants.


Andrea Rossi, technology chief at Sappi Limited, said that the pilot plant will help with Sappi’s move into new adjacent business fields based on renewable raw materials. Sappi’s strategy includes seeking growth opportunities by producing innovative performance materials from renewable resources. “The location of the pilot plant


at Brightlands Chemelot Campus provides Sappi with easy access to multiple partners with whom Sappi will seek to co-develop products that will incorporate CNF across a large variety of product applications to optimise performance and to create unique characteristics for these products,” Rossi said. Sappi says that the CNF will


have unique morphology, specifically modified for either hydrophobic or hydrophilic applications.


In December 2014, Sappi and


Edinburgh Napier University announced the results of a three-year project to find a low cost energy-saving process that would allow Sappi to produce the nanocellulose on a commercially viable basis – and importantly without producing large volumes of chemical waste water associated with existing techniques. At the time, Professor Rob English, who led the research with his Edinburgh Napier colleague, Dr Rhodri Williams, said, “What is significant about our process is the use of unique chemistry, which has allowed us to very easily break down the wood pulp fibres into nanocellulose. There is no


Pulp Paper & Logistics


expensive chemistry required and, most significantly, the chemicals used can be easily recycled and reused without generating large quantities of waste water. Math Jennekens, R&D director


at Sappi Europe, the project coordinator who will oversee the pilot plant, said “We are very excited to be able to move from a bench top environment into real-world production. Our targeted run-rate will be eight tons per annum. We will produce a dry powder that can be easily redispersed in water. The nanocellulose is unmodified which makes it easier to combine with other materials. The product will be used to build partnerships to test the application of our nanocellulose across the widest range of uses.” The pilot plant is expected to start up later this year.


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