Pulp and paper industry: An overview on pulping technologies, factors, and challenges

Abstract

The pulp and paper sector currently plays important part in the world's economy. In this paper, we present a review of pulping technologies to convert logs or wood chips and non-woody materials into pulp for use in papermaking which consist of mechanical, chemical and semi-mechanical. It also talks about the history of papermaking and various important factors involved in producing high quality pulp and paper such as H-factor (time and temperature), alkaline charge, liquor to wood ratio, and sulphidity. This paper also discusses about challenges facing by the pulp and paper industry or processes, namely high use of energy and chemicals, as well as generation of liquid and solid wastes of large quantities. This paper will be handier for those who are new to the field of pulping research for paper production.