Particle size analyzer for investigating flocculation and dipsersion systems

目前，由于纸张消费的减少和全球供应的变化，纸浆和造纸行业在财务上举步维艰。该行业正在寻找替代方案，以增加商业收入或降低运营成本。纤维素目前被转化为纸制品，但在制浆过程中从木质生物质中提取的木质素和一些半纤维素仍然没有得到充分利用。在法特希博士的研究小组中，已经开发了几个研究项目来评估木质素和半纤维素的价值，以支持纸浆厂启动生物精炼。这些项目包括1)从制浆废液和废水中提取木质素和半纤维素，以及2)将木质素转化为高价值的絮凝剂和分散剂。为了降低工厂废水处理系统的运营成本，法特希博士的团队正在研究一项使用生物质飞灰作为废水排放物的吸附剂的计划。 粒度分析仪是胶体和表面科学中必不可少的仪器，全世界的化学家、技术专家和工程师都在使用它。该仪器提供有关溶液/悬浮液中颗粒大小的信息，这对于控制水体系中颗粒的行为至关重要。所要求的研究仪器将大大推进申请者的研究计划。它对学生培训(将每天使用)以及申请者的国内和国际合作也是必不可少的。它为以下方面提供了重要的信息：1)评价木质素产品的性能，这对于设计木质素分散剂和絮凝剂是必不可少的；2)了解木质素的化学修饰机理；3)了解并开发基于飞灰的废水处理系统。 预计在该仪器的帮助下，将开发出增加纸浆厂收入或降低纸浆厂运营成本的技术，并将其应用于纸浆厂。这些进展将帮助纸浆厂克服目前的财务挑战。价态木质素将是纸浆厂的新产品，将提高它们的全球竞争力，并抵消大宗商品价格的波动。支持制浆工业将确保加拿大在全球大宗商品市场的竞争力，并将为社区带来稳定的就业机会和更大的繁荣。此外，用木质素基化学品取代油基絮凝剂和分散剂将极大地减少工业和城市污水处理过程对环境的影响。

Currently, the pulp and paper industry is struggling financially due to the reduction in paper consumption and changes in global supply. The industry is searching for alternatives to increase its commercial revenues or reduce its operating costs. Cellulose is currently converted to paper products, but the lignin and some hemicelluloses that are extracted from woody biomass in the pulping process remain under-utilized. In Dr. Fatehi’s research group, several research programs have been developed to valorize lignin and hemicelluloses in supporting pulp mills to initiate biorefineries. These programs include 1) the extraction of lignin and hemicelluloses from pulping spent liquors and wastewater effluents, and 2) the conversion of lignin to high-value flocculants and dispersants. To reduce the operating costs of wastewater treatment systems of the mills, a program is under investigation in Dr. Fatehi’s group to use biomass fly ash as an adsorbent for wastewater effluents. A particle size analyzer is an essential instrument in colloid and surface science, and it is used by chemists, technologists and engineers worldwide. The instrument provides information about the size of particles in solutions/suspensions, which is crucial in controlling the behavior of particles in aqueous systems. The requested research instrument will advance the applicant’s research programs substantially. It is also essential to student training (it will be used on a daily basis) and to applicant’s national and international collaborations. It provides important information for 1) evaluating the performance of lignin-based products, which is essential for designing lignin-based dispersants and flocculants; 2) understanding the mechanism of chemical modification of lignin; and 3) understanding and therefore developing a fly ash-based wastewater treatment system. It is expected that, with the help of this instrument, techniques to increase revenues or to reduce the operating costs of the pulp mills will be developed and applied in pulp mills. These advances will help pulp mills in overcoming their current financial challenges. Valorized lignin will be a new product of pulp mills, improving their global competitiveness and offsetting the volatility of commodity prices. Supporting the pulping industry will secure Canada’s competitiveness in the global commodities market, and will bring stable jobs and greater prosperity to communities. Furthermore, the replacement of oil-based flocculants and dispersants with lignin-based chemicals will enormously reduce the environmental impact of industrial and municipal wastewater treatment processes.