Recycling Technology Center at WMU

CENTER FOR PAPER RECYLING TECHNOLOGY

MISSION STATEMENT

Emerging global markets and economics require that the pulp and paper industry continually advance technology in order to remain cost competitive and reduce environmental concerns. To accomplish this goal, the industry must continue to develop techn ology that more fully utilizes recycle fiber. It is the mission of the Center for Recyling Technology to help the paper industry meet the future needs in recycling through the efficient application of current technology and the development of new technology. The mission of this center will ensure that the current recycling capacity is fully utilized through the development of technology that both improves fiber quality and expands the market for recycle fiber. The center will help the paper industry meet the objectives through research and by providing knowledgeable Paper Engineering, Chemical Engineering and Imaging graduates. The center will interface with papermaking, coating, inks and printing faculty and facilities at Western Michigan University.

MARKETS SERVED

The Center will conduct research for companies involved in the manufacture of paper, paperboard, paper additives, and coatings.

Western Michigan University offers unique research capabilities in pulping, papermaking, coating, converting, and printing. It is the only location in the world with paper, printing and coating pilot plants on the same academic campus. The client can come to th e campus with mixed office waste and leave with a printed sheet. The Department has experienced faculty and staff in all areas of paper and printing technology, as well as Chemical Engineering. Technical personnel are available for extensive and efficient contract research and develo pment activities.

FIBER RECYCLING

The Western Michigan University Paper Pilot Plant includes a state-of -the-art recycling/deinking facility. The facility can process 300-1,000 lbs. of fiber per day depending on the number of unit operations required. Collected samples can be evaluated for brightness, fiber length, freeness, dirt, six cut screen re jects, fiber coarseness, ash, consistency, etc. The pulp can be dried, made into paper, coated, supercalendered and printed. Some of the unit operations that can be studied are given below .

Repulping:

Black Clawson Hydrapulper, 15% consistency, 100 hp variable speed drive, 300-500 lb. Batch
Deflaker, Bird, Model 2

Screening and Cleaning:

Black Clawson Pressure Screen, 12 PH-PS, 0.006, 0.008, 0.014, 0.018 slots, 0.062, 0.074, 0.094 holes
High Density Centra Cleaner, C-E Bauer
Jonnson Screen, Bird Model 8, 0.125 holes, 12% open area
Forward Centra Cleaners, Beloit Posi-Flows, 300 gpm primary, 120 gpm secondary, 50 gpm tertiary,
Through Flows, Beloit Uniflow, 300 gpm primary, 120 gpm secondary, 50 gpm tertiary

Deinking:

Screw press, Voith Morden (Baker) Extractor, Model 6
Drum Washer, IMPCO Rotary Drum Filter, 1 tpd
Side Hill Screens, 2,
Hydrasieve, C-E Bauer Model 554-2, 0,020 slots, 300 gpm
Floating Deinking Cell, Voith Morden,1500 liters, 400 gpm

Other units:

Kneading, Shinhama DDE-2-15, 2 tpd, 15 hp, 35% consistency
Water Clarification, Krofta Supracell, 100 gpm

A modular piping system allows connection of individual pieces of equipment in any configuration to simulate a wide variety of industrial systems. The fiber recycling facility is manually controlled from an operator's panel. Data are collected by a computer which logs all measured variables. The collected data can be recalled and printed out in table form or graphed automatically. The system also has a remote display in the operator's control panel where real-time graphics are displayed and automati cally updated every 10 seconds.