Engineering the next generation of sustainable fiber-based products
Did you know there’s a full pilot-sized paper plant housed at Western Michigan University’s College of Engineering and Applied Sciences that benefits students as well as global corporations like Apple and Starbucks? As home to one of only four ABET-accredited paper engineering and paper sciences programs in the United States, the college continuously improves coursework, conducts research and offers product development through programs such as the pilot plants.
“Our paper pilot plant provides unparalleled opportunities for our students, as well as an outlet for companies to test new paper types, fibers, chemistries and equipment on a smaller scale without having to interrupt their commercial production lines,” says Dr. Kecheng Li, chair and professor of WMU’s Department of Chemical and Paper Engineering.
The Paper Pilot Plant contains a 24-inch Fourdrinier paper machine with stock preparation and a recycling plant that together provide the ability to make paper from various types of fibers.
“We work with clients from all over the world to act as their research and development team with our expertise and equipment,” says Lon Pschigoda, B.S.E.’99, general manager of WMU’s Paper Pilot Plant.
One of the newest products developed at Western is a 100% bio-based barrier coating for paper and paperboard. A common issue in paper products used for beverages and food is that the wax or plastic coating applied to make the product water resistant is not recyclable and result in paper products such as disposable cups, take-out containers and produce boxes ending up in landfills rather than being recycled.
An Australian company, Earthodic, has developed a coating made with lignin—a byproduct of paper making—that provides water and grease resistance while still being recyclable.
“Large paper making companies can end up with hundreds of thousands of tons of lignin waste product per year, so there is a nice circular story here with using this product to develop this recyclable coating,” says Fiona Donaghey, co-founder of Earthodic.
The project provides an exciting opportunity for students who are involved at the ground level in the development of this innovative product, but it also has the potential to provide significant benefits for our planet as this renewable, recyclable, compostable coating provides a new solution to a problem that is typically met with plastic or fossil fuel-based coatings.
“The technology could help eliminate paper and plastic from landfills, eliminate microplastic pollution—and it uses a renewable resource to do so,” says Pschigoda.
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