Developing fiber and mineral based composite materials from paper manufacturing by-products

Developing valuable materials from the by-products of paper industry can help to address some environmental and economic issues associated with traditional synthetic composites. Particularly, the management of paper mill sludge (PMS) waste remains an economic and environmental challenge for the pulp and paper industry. 11 million tons of PMS is generated annually in Europe from the wastewater treatment (WWT) process of paper mills. PMS is mostly used in low value applications. However, PMS contains fibers and minerals with physio-chemical properties that exhibit a high potential to substitute some conventional materials in other industries. The research presented in this paper aims to explore new directions for further investigation on PMS material applications by reviewing the literature on PMS materials and subsequently characterizing sludge from 6 different mills. The study shows the technical feasibility, opportunities and technological readiness of fiber and mineral based composites obtained from PMS, such as; cementitious products, polymer reinforcement and fiberboards

Combustion of Solid Biomass: Classification of Fuels

The combustion of solid biomass and the classification of these fuels are considered. Firstly the different methods of combustion appliances and plants are outlined from a fundamental point of view. The forms and types of solid biomass fuels, their chemical composition and the way they are classified are then described. Characterisation by chemical analysis and instrumental methods are outlined