Research & Development

ARBOKEM, INC.		Straw Newsprint Pulp Trial Worked with maverick paper entrepreneur Al Wong, founder of Alberta, Canada-based Arbokem to convince eight major daily newspapers in California to request ag-residue paper. The pilot trail conducted at Jefferson Smurfit's Oregon City newsprint mill succeeded in incorporating 20% non-wood fiber containing wheat straw, rice straw, flax & bluegrass stubble.
INTERNATIONAL JUTE ORGANIZATION		Biopulping & biobleaching of jute and kenaf Participation in a UNIDO funded project for development of pulping technology and logistics for jute stick and whole kenaf for Bangladesh, India and other IJO members. The participation of ATO-DLO comprises the development of biomechanical processing for said bast fibre crops.
DUTCH PAPER PRODUCER		Soda pulping of banana leaf fibre A brief evaluation of banana by-product fibre was conducted through kraft cooks and chemimechanical pulping trials.
REFINER MANUFACTURER		Chemimechanical pulping of Empty Fruit Bunch Evaluation of refiner-based CTMP pulping of palm-oil residues for application in packaging papers and boards in Asia.
EU FAIR KENAF PROJECT		Kenaf application development Development of technologies for processing of kenaf to develop a novel feedstock for non-traditional fibre products, with involvement of the whole chain of growing, processing and end-users.
CFC* / FAO*		CFC* / FAO* Coir based building materials A new proces was designed to produce fibre boards for building from whole coconut husks, without no synthetic binder. The feasibility for industrial scale production in coconut growing areas was investigated in cooperation with Philippine governmental institutions.
NORDIC NONWOVENS PRODUCER		Agrofibres for wetlaid nonwovens Development of biodegradable and renewable fibre source for replacement of synthetic fibres in disposable wetlaid nonwoven production. Flax was selected from a range of bast and leaf fibres (flax, hemp, ramie, abaca, sisal) and a tailored fibre pulping process was developed and patented. ATO-DLO was involved in setting up production capacity for the developed fibre.
EU PACKAGING PRODUCER		Improvement of testliner creasibility A device was developed and patented for reproducible measurement of testliner creasing behaviour. With this device an improved raw material blend was found to show improved testliner creasing properties. The contracting papermaker engaged in production of the new testliner and ATO-DLO was involved in the production and marketing of the developed test device.
DUTCH & NORDIC PAPER PRODUCERS		Hemp fiber for graphic paper & packaging board A study was issued to evaluate bleached chemimechanical pulp from the core fibre from hemp for improvement of sheet formation and porosity control in uncoated graphic paper. The study revealed that specifications can be met, the project proceeded to feasibility study stage. The performance of a variety of hemp core pulps was evaluated for improvement of internal bond in multilayer boards. Although it was found to be very good, the scale of the application did not allow for economically feasible operation.
DUTCH CHEMICAL COMPANY		Agrofibre as cellulose source for fibre spinning A selection of cellulose sources in agrofibre was evaluated for use in spinning of newly developed regenerated cellulose fibres. It was shown in laboratory trials that hemp bast fibre can produce a cellulose quality with a narrower DP distribution than commercial celluloses. This property is of interest in fibre spinning. The project continues to optimise the cellulose extraction routes.
DUTCH PAPER PRODUCER		Agrofibre for graphic paper A study was issued to evaluate bleached chemimechanical pulp from the bast fibre from hemp and flax as a replacement for cotton linter pulp. The study revealed that specifications can be met, the project proceeded with a feasibility study.
NORDIC PULP & PAPER COMPANY		Hardwood from Softwood The twin screw extrusion pulping process was adapted to produce a fibre pulp with hardwood dimensions from NBSK pulp, without significantly increasing its beating degree, and at acceptable energy consumption. The process was patented and compared to disc refiner based fibre cutting techniques.
DUTCH PACKAGING COMPANY		Recycled paper for extrusion molded profiles and Solidboard A production process was developed to use production waste from liquid packaging production in extrusion molded profiles. The profiles developed showed acceptable properties in dry and wet conditions. Research is ongoing to develop similar applications using injection molding techniques. The performance of recycled paper sources for solidboard production was optimised for stiffness properties. The first results revealed that the board properties could be improved at the same raw material cost.
CANADIAN PULP & PAPER COMPANY		Chemimechanical pulping of switchgrass Production of bleached pulp from Canadian switchgrass using the APXP extrusion process was evaluated and found to produce pulps suitable for graphic paper production.
DUTCH PACKAGING COMPANY		Optimisation of box compression strength A theoretical model of a corrugated board box reveals that by improved box design and selection of packaging paper the compression strength of the box can be optimised.
DUTCH GOVERNMENT		The Dutch Hemp Program Evaluation of Refining, Extrusion, Soda and Organosolv pulping for Hemp as a new crop for Dutch arable farming. A feasibility study advised to setup a pilot plant for further evaluation of the technology.