ACS Webinars: Green Chemistry and the Paper Industry

Introduction

• Host: Michael David from ACS Webinars.
• Guest Speaker: Richard Venditti, professor at NC State University.
• Moderator: David Constable, Science Director at ACS Green Chemistry Institute.
• Focus on paper and pulp recycling as a renewable, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly solution.

Overview of the Paper Industry

• Common misconception: role of paper is decreasing.
• Paper is vital for communication and packaging (growing due to online shopping trends like Amazon).
• Other uses include hygiene products, filtration, cellulose plastics, etc.
• Global demand: 400 million metric tons of paper per year.
• Raw materials: 1 billion tons of wood, 20 billion tons of water.

Paper Consumption & Emerging Markets

• Paper consumption linked to GDP.
• U.S. consumes 300 kg per person annually.
• Emerging countries like China and India consume only 50 kg, expected to increase.

Importance of Forests

• Forests are crucial for life: filtering water, producing food, cleaning air.
• Since Industrial Revolution, 33% decrease in forest lands.
• Proper management can provide 2/3 of industrial wood needs.

Green Chemistry in the Paper Industry

• Main Objective: Demonstrate paper industry's use of green chemistry principles.
• Use of sustainable raw materials and processes.
• Pulping Process: Converts wood into paper fibers using chemicals to dissolve lignin.

Recovery and Recycle Loops

• Recovery Boiler: Converts dissolved organics to energy, recovers chemicals.
• Chemical recovery: 95-97%, reducing chemical needs by 25 times.

Use of Enzymes

• Enzymes used to reduce chlorine dioxide in bleaching process.
• Example: Xylanase reduces chlorine dioxide needs by 25%.

Biorefinery Concept

• Modern mills produce additional products like biofuels, adhesives, fertilizers.

Paper Recycling

• High recycling rate: 66% of paper, 93.8% of boxes in the USA.
• Paper's strength: Hydrogen bonds make recycling efficient.
• Environmental impact: Reduces landfill waste, compares favorably to plastics.

Recycling Process

• Simple, water-based method to separate fibers.
• Recycling reduces environmental impact significantly.

Innovative and Emerging Concepts

• Nano Cellulose: Provides strong, thin films, biodegradable, and biocompatible.
• New applications in packaging and coatings to reduce reliance on harmful chemicals.

Paper vs. Plastic

• Advantages of Paper:
  • High recycling rate, promotes forests, biodegradable.
• Disadvantages:
  • Heavier, requires more raw material, higher water use.
• Plastic:
  • Less recycled, greater environmental persistence.

Conclusion

• Paper industry applies green chemistry principles effectively.
• Importance of entire lifecycle consideration for environmental impact.

Audience Engagement

• Audience polls on perceptions of paper industry, recycling, and preferences for paper vs. plastic.
• Questions addressed about recycling challenges, use of lignin, environmental concerns, and new technologies.