Advanced Studies in Pulp and Paper

Recommended Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of Pulp Sience and Technology and of Paper Sience and Technology (or equivalent).

Teaching Methods

Theoretical sessions, seminars and tutorial sessions. Theoretical concepts, real situations and some practical examples are presented by the professors and invited experts in the theoretical sessions and seminars. Oral presentation and discussion, supported by slides and videos, will be the main vehicles of communication. Students are encouraged to discuss and solve case studies and practical problems following, an independent approach in the theoretical-classes. In the tutorial sessions students are oriented to prepare a monography where a specific subject is addressed in a deeper way.

Learning Outcomes

It is intended that students understand the basic concepts of the composition and structure of the paper fibres and their relevance for the paper final properties; know the main types of paper products, the main paper components (fibres, fillers and additives) and their role; know the paper chemistry; know the main unit operations of the paper mill (identifying the processes of mass, heat and momentum transfer); know the fundamentals of furnish preparation, refining, formation, surface treatment and converting, know which are the most important paper properties and the methods used to evaluate them; understand the relevance of the quality control; be aware of the advances in the pulp and paper industry, namely concerning biorefinery, new bleaching processes and new fiber and paper based materials.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

Wood structure and ultra-structure. Wood polymer (celullose, hemicelulloses and lignin); Pulping Processes Composition, Structure and Properties of pulp and paper Fibres; Pulping processes; The paper machine; Paper Chemistry; Chemistry of the kraft process; Chemistry of bleaching; Recovery boiler and furnace; polymers in papermaking (starch, internal and surface sizing agents, retention and coating agents). Wet-end chemistry; Refining and sheet formation; Surface treatments (poymers, pigments and dyes); Rheology of fillers and pigment suspensions; Types of papers; Printing and imprimability; Fiber recycling and deinking; Advanced techniques for pulp and paper characterization; New tendencies, processes and products; Biorefinery in the pulp and paper industry.

Assessment Methods

Assessment
The final classification of the student is based on the preparation and presentation of a monography (synthesis work) with a weight of 100% or in the sum of distinct components (exam, problems solving and synthesis work) with a total weight of 100%: 100.0%

Bibliography

Paulapuro, H., Levlin, J., Soderhjelm, L. Papermaking Science and Technology. Finnish Paper Engineer’s Association; Technical Association of Pulp and Paper Industry, 20 books serie published between 1999 and 2001.

Smook, G.A. Handbook for Pulp & Paper Technologists. 3rd Ed. Angus Wilde Publications, Inc., Vancouver, 2002

Borch, J., Lyne, M., Mark, R.E., Habeger Jr., C.C. Handbook of Physical and Mechanical Testing of Paper and Paperboard. 2nd Ed., Vol 2. Marcel & Dekker Inc., N. York, 2002.

Sjostrom, E. Wood Chemistry. 2nd Ed., Academic Press, London, 1993

Clark, J. d'A. Pulp technology and treatment for paper. , 2nd Ed.., Miller Freeman Publications, San Francisco, 1985.

Casey, James. Pulp & Paper Chemistry and Chemical Technology. 3rd Ed. 4 Vols. Wiley-Interscience, N. York, 1981

Klemm, D., Kramer, F.,  Moritz, S., Lindström, T., Ankerfors, M., Gray, D., Dorris, A.  Nanocelluloses: a new family of nature-based materials, Angew. Chem. Int. Edit., 50, 5438-5466  (2011).

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