Page 98 - Energy from Toxic Organic Waste for Heat and Power Generation

CHAPTER 7

Paper Industry Wastes and Energy

Generation From Wastes

†
P.M. Gopal*, N.M. Sivaram , Debabrata Barik*
* Department of Mechanical Engineering, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore, India
† Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Puducherry, Karaikal, U.T. of
Puducherry, India

7.1 INTRODUCTION
Paper principally utilized for writing is normally a white material, initially
invented in ancient China. Even though modern predecessors like papy-
rus and amate existed in the Mediterranean world and pre-Columbian
Americas, respectively, these materials are not defined as true paper. The
word “paper” is basically derived from papyrus, the ancient Greek name
for the Cyperus papyrus plant. Long before paper was used in China, ancient
Egypt and other Mediterranean societies used papyrus for writing, which is
a thick, paper-like material produced from the pith of the Cyperus papyrus
plant. However, plants were pressed and dried to make papyrus, while fibers
were used to make paper whose properties have been altered by maceration
or disintegration. Similarly, a type of premature bark paper known as amate
was in use as a folded writing material for codices in the pre-Columbian
Americas. The most primitive sample of amate belonging to the shaft tomb
ethnicity was found at Huitzilapa near the Magdalena Municipality, Jalisco,
Mexico.
Initial paper making methodology was documented in China at some
stage in the Eastern Han era (CE 25–220), traditionally attributed to the
court official Cai Lun. Chinese papermaking broadens in the Islamic world
during 8th century where pulp and paper mills were used for money mak-
ing. As a continuation, paper making got across to medieval Europe in 11th
century wherein the process was advanced with the aid of water wheels and
the process is earliest known as paper mills. Afterward, Western expansions
to the paper making process with the development of wood-based papers
came in the 19th century. In terms of raw material consumption, the mod-
ern day pulp and paper industry are intensive.

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