Application of cleaner production technique followed by experimentation on high yield semi-chemical pulping of rice straw and sabai grass for corrugating medium and linerboard

Abstract

This thesis basically provides the knowledge, experiments and findings of cleaner production measures in a non-wood and agro based paper mill. It deals with the issue related to the cleaning production. Cleaner Production is one of those opportunities that have been successfully implemented in all kinds of industry regardless of its size and scale. Optimal use of easily available raw materials and change in input material are some of the methodologies of cleaner production. With such method a remarkable reduction of pollution load is possible from a highly polluting industry like paper industry. One of the workable cleaner production option, “Adopt medium soft cooking system and preference given for high yield semi-chemical pulping” was selected and experimented with SAICA process. In the experiment, soda air bath cooking method were used at different chemical dose and cooking time. The test result of paper properties of 50:50 mixtures of Sabai grass and Rice straw were presented. The research results were compared to RCT and CMT values of the European and Asian secondary fiber linerboard and corrugating medium This study followed qualitative research design with focus on its philosophical premise which encompasses ontological, epistemological, and methodological assumptions. The ontological framework for this study subscribes to the notion of multiple realities regarding the issue of cleaning production where as the epistemological assumption dwelt on different knowledge that can be accessed through focused interactions with research participants, experimental work and intensive study of literature. So, I used research participants’ perceptions, themes of literature and findings from experimental works during my study. Despite this limitation, prolonged discourse and intensive interactions based on subjective inquiry in uncovering what research participants felt as ‘truth’ assured me to claim that the revealed knowledge is trustworthy in my study. The economical, technical and environmental evaluation is done for the selected option and an experimental derivation is carried out. The experiment for one of the selected CP option is performed. The results and discussion part of the thesis precisely analysed the results obtained after experiments with environmental pollution point of view. The d product samples (Pulp) after experimentation were evaluated, pulp obtained with different essential properties suitable for a corrugating medium grade. Essential properties like, Basis weight, Proper cooking chemical charge, Beating degree, Beating time, Tensile index, Density, Burst Index, Concora Medium Test, Bending Stiffness and internal bonding were tested. The study explored the idea of general public about of environmental pollution, need of pollution reduction practice, cleaner production measures for the reduction of pollution, Pollution level at pulp and paper industries, Industry’s interest towards Low Cost and No Waste Technology (LNWT), market demand of packaging and corrugated paper, supply of raw materials, production-consumption rate of papers in the country, major environmental problem faced by the paper industries, toxicity due to bleach chemicals, environmental challenges in the paper industries, BAT technologies, regulatory guidelines, academic significance of cleaner production intervention, use of non-wood fibers in corrugated (Linerboard) grades and pollution emerged from bleached grades of corrugated paper.