Participants and Instructors of the April 2014 API course
The Advanced Papermaking Initiative (API) at UBC sponsored a successful 2-day course on “Introduction to Pulp and Paper Technology” on April 10th and 11th. 18 students from BC Hydro, Alberta Newsprint Company, and Spraying Systems Co. attended the hands-on course. It was structured in a way to emphasize learning outcomes and consisted of lectures in the mornings followed by lab exercises in the afternoons to re-emphasize material and enhance understanding of the processes.
The course covered an array of units. Natural Resources gave an overview of forests native to Canada, types of trees and their structures, cells, lignin and various extractives. The Mechanical Pulping unit discussed topics that ranged from chip screening to refining equipment. Stock Preparation & Pulp Processing discussed various technology in detail and included power saving strategies that can be utilized by industry. Kraft Pulping included lectures on chemical pulping, chemical recovery and bleaching – sometimes chemistry intensive, as with the Papermaking Chemistry unit, but the students kept up fine. Mark Martinez, API and PPC Director, gave an overview of Papermaking that included historical facts and detailed information on the modern papermachine. Since half of the students were visiting from mills, they found this unit especially thrilling. James Olson, Associate Dean of Research at Applied Science, gave the final lecture on the future of bio-products and the bio-economy.
Students are seen comparing pulp consistencies prior to making their own handsheets
Arguably the most popular until of the course was the time spent in the labs with Nici Darychuk as Instructor. Different pulp grades were tested for consistency, freeness and fibre length, and each student had the opportunity to make their own handsheets. Handsheets were then tested for optical and physical properties of interest using standard methods and equipment. The group also had a chance to view pressure screens and visit PPC’s low consistency refining pilot plant.
The course was instructed by:
Mark Martinez, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Director of the Pulp and Paper Centre and Advanced Papermaking Initiative, UBC
James Olson, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Associate Dean of Research & Industrial Partnerships, UBC
Rodger Beatson, Chair of Advanced Papermaking, Chemical & Environmental Technologies, BCIT
Peter Englezos, Head and Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, UBC
Robert Gooding, Adjunct Professor, Mechanical Engineering, UBC, and Vice President, Technology, Aikawa Fiber Technologies
Nici Darychuk, Research Assistant, Pulp and Paper Centre, UBC
For more information or to register for the next course, please visit the API website.