Republic of the Philippines

Tarlac State University

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY
Department of Mechanical Engineering
Romulo Blvd, Tarlac City, Tarlac

Paper Industry
A Report Paper Submitted to Engr. Joycelyn Cabuang
In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements of the Course Subject

A363:
Environmental Science and Engineering

by Group No. 8:

Romero, James Ryan P.

Sabado, Jamie Anne M.

Tamina, Vincent A.

Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

A.Y. 2021 – 2022

Raw Materials Used in Paper Industry

On the basis of their characteristics and effects on paper quality, the raw material
used for paper industry can be classified into the different categories including pulp,
sizing materials, mineral fillers, and coloring matters.

Pulp

The pulp is the basic and most important ingredient for papermaking. It is the
major raw material that is used in the largest fraction with other materials.

Wood Pulp

There are two sources of wood pulp hardwood trees and softwood trees. More
than 90% of the total manufactured paper is made from wood pulp today. Wood pulp is
obtained by chemically or mechanically reducing wood fiber into a lignocellulosic fibrous
material. The various kinds of paper made from wood pulp are newspapers, magazines,
toilet papers, etc. Softwood coniferous trees like pine and spruce are the richest source
of wood pulp. As trees are replantable, easily harvested and easy to transport, wood
pulp is an environment-friendly and ideal raw material for paper making.

Sizing Elements

Starch and rosin sizing can be done both internally as well as externally. Rosin is

used in internal sizing to provide the paper water-resistance and starch is used for
surface sizing to control the absorption of printing ink and reduces the release of
surface fibers.

Fillers Agents

To enhance the paper opacity, smoothness, and color mineral fillers are used.
Fillers improves the brightness and whiteness of the paper and provides more pop to
printing paper.

Pigments or Coloring Agents

Pigments are used to provide different colors to the paper in the paper industry.
To color paper, soluble pigments are used. Fluorescent pigments are extensively used
in the paper coating process to improve its appearance.

Therefore, in the formation of a high-quality paper, so many ingredients are used

which contributes a lot in its strength and durability. Buy supreme quality chemicals and
additives from the best paper and packaging company to get desired results.
Flow Chart

Paper is made through the following processes:

1) Pulping procedure will be done to separate and clean the fibers. Pulping process is
done to remove lignin without loosing strength of fiber. It is also used to remove
impurities that could possibly cause discoloration in the paper.

2) Refining procedure will be followed after pulping processes. This procedure is done
to increase the density and provide a better bonding between fibers.

3) Dilution process to form a thin fiber mixture. Dilution is done to remove or kill bacteria
or fungi that possibly lives in the material.

4) Formation of fibers on a thin screened. This process is used so the paper could
create a structure or shape.

5) Pressurization to enhance the density of the material.

6) Drying to eliminate the density of materials. Drying is done to eliminate water if the
material still has it.

7) Finishing procedure to provide a suitable surface for usage.

Papermaking Procedure

Bleached or unbleached pulp may be further refined to cut the fibers and
roughen the surface of the fibers to enhance formation and bonding of the fibers as they
enter the paper machine.
 Water is added to the pulp slurry to make a thin mixture normally containing less
than 1 percent fiber. The dilute slurry is then cleaned in cyclone cleaners and screened
in centrifugal screens before being fed into the ‘wet end’ of the paper-forming machine.
The dilute stock passes through a head-box that distributes the fiber slurry uniformly
over the width of the paper sheet to be formed.

Paper Pollution

Paper pollution refers to environmental pollution caused by the production, use

and recycling of paper.  Paper pollution causes severe adverse effects to the quality of
air, water and land.  Discarded paper is a major component of many landfill sites. 
Paper recycling is also a source of pollution due to the sludge produced during deinking.

Pulp and paper is the third largest industrial polluter to air, water, and land in the United
States, and studies show that it releases well over 100 million kg of toxic pollution each
year.

The main components of pulp mill related pollution are chlorine and chlorine
based materials, sulfur, hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide.  Chlorine and compounds
of chlorine are used in the bleaching of wood pulp, especially chemical pulps produced
by the kraft process or sulfite process.   Plants using elemental chlorine produced
significant quantities of dioxins that are persistent organic pollutants that are one of the
most toxic human-released pollutants.

Sulfur-based compounds are used in kraft process as well as sulfite process for
making wood pulp. The release of sulfur dioxide is of particular concern because it is
water soluble and is a major cause of acid rain.

All of these cause acid rain and CO is a major greenhouse gas that causes climate
change. These toxic gases are emitted during paper manufacturing:

 Nitrogen dioxide (NO)

 Sulfur Dioxide (SO)
 Carbon Dioxide (CO)

Paper Pollution Treatment

Waste Minimization

Modern waste minimization approach is chemical recovery and recycling. This

system especially in chemical pulping process significantly reduces pollutants and
additionally economical return is another important aspect. The industries have
developed and applied new technologies instead of conventional pulping and bleaching
processes.
These are some examples/suggestions:

• Organic Solvent Pulping

• Acid Pulping

• Biopulping

• Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) and Total Chlorine Free (TCF) Bleaching

• Biobleaching

• Extended Delignification

Although the best approach for paper pollution is to minimize the waste
generated from the pulp and paper mills and recycle, treatment applications are
still necessary.

Primary Treatment

In this step, the aim is to remove suspended solid such as bark particles, fiber,
fiber debris, filler and coating materials and consequently organic materials. Primary
clarification can also be achieved without sedimentation and flotation.

Secondary Treatment

Most common biological treatment application for paper pollution:

• Aerobic lagoons
 • Activated Sludge System

• Anaerobic Treatment

• Sequential Treatment

Tertiary Treatment

 Coagulation/Precipitation

 Adsorption

 Chemical Oxidation

 Membrane Filtration