Introduction: ProblemRecognition of Problem

● “This year, for the first time since before the Ice Age, CO2 will not fall below the 400 ppm mark.” -NOAA (2016)

Algae could be used to sequester carbon

● Unless made into a product with a long useful lifespan it will decay and re-release the CO2

Definition of Problem for South Carolina

● “Pithophora is a native algae to South Carolina that is most commonly controlled through the use of herbicides.” - DNR (2015)

http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/full.html

Introduction: Goals

Biological- Design and model the process of making paper pulp from algae that can be

substituted for wood in traditional paper presses- Improve bleaching processes through chlorophyll-related options

Structural - Create a paper product that stands up to the TAPPI standards of store bought

wood pulp paperMechanical

- Develop a more sophisticated way to clean the filamentous algae.- Determine a simplified paper making process utilizing the benefits of

algae-based pulp - Decrease pulping and drying times

Introduction: Constraints

Skills - Lack of paper making knowledge

Budgetary - Algal paper production must be comparable in price to similar wood pulp based papers

Space - Can only keep a limited amount of algae for testing at a given time

Logistics - Lab scale tests and procedures are very different from industrial application

Time - Algae growth rate and seasonal weather limits algal biomass available for testing

Introduction: Considerations

Ethical - North Charleston’s Kapstone plant uses chemical pulping which must be heavily treated before being released into the Cooper River.

Safety - Bioaccumulation of toxins could occur in marine life living in or near the effluent flows of paper mills if not treated properly.

Ecological - Grass Carp and Mozambique Tilapia have been used in the past to try to control blooms of filamentous algae, but have been found to prefer other aquatic grasses.

http://www.kapstonepaper.com/location/charleston-sc/

Introduction: Questions of User

Person using the finished paper.

● Will traditional pens and pencils write legibly on Algal paper?

● Is the algal paper as durable as comparable traditional papers?

● Will the paper last as long as traditional papers?

Introduction: Questions of Client

Paper press - What is required to store algal pulp for processes?- What kind of retrofitting would need to be done for the substitution to take

place?- Can wood and algae pulp be mixed?

Introduction: Questions of Designer

Your’s Truly

- What quantity of pulp will be required to maintain an operation?

- What will be the required strength of the pressed paper?

- What type of algae will be used?

Governing EquationsBlending Scale-Up

● Reynolds Number

● Power in an unbaffled tank

● Limiting Vortexing Pbaffled = ⅙ Punbaffled

● Power in a baffled tank P = kρN3D5

http://mimoza.marmara.edu.tr/~bilge.alpaslan/enve301/Lectures/Chp_6.pdf

Identifying the Algae

Scientific Name: Pithophora oedogonia

Common Name: Cotton-ball Algae/Horsehair Algae

Design: Small Scale ● Harvesting

● Cleaning

● Drying

● Rehydration

● Pulping

● Straining

● Pressing

● Redrying

Preliminary data: Drying ● Preliminary Trial:

○ Oven dried at 68℃ over 4 days○ Algae was successfully dried with a

brown border

● Trial 1:○ Oven was set to 103℃ ○ Algae was weighed every

30 minutes for 5.5 hours○ Drying occurred at 0.85

g/min

Preliminary data: Pulping

● Proctor Silex 59735 immersion blender

● Tested dried and undried samples

● Fiber lengths of pulped paper averaged 6.45 mm.

http://www.paperonweb.com/pulppro.htm

Preliminary data: Pulping dried and undried● Undried

○ Blends very quickly and easily○ Cells do not rupture or shorten○ Color stays very green

● Dried ○ Must rehydrate for easy pulping ○ Cells rupture and shorten ○ Color fades over time

Preliminary data: Pulping Dried and Undried

Undried Dried

Forming Handsheets for qualitative analysis of Pulp

● Based on TAPPI standards T 218 sp-11 ● Utilized rehydrated dried algae from

preliminary drying test ● Proctor Silex 59735 immersion blender was

used for pulping

Forming Handsheets for Qualitative Analysis of Pulp

● 100 mm diameter Büchner

funnel was used to strain pulp

● Pressed between granite slabs

● Allowed to air dry overnight

● Achieved finished test weight of

60 g/m2

Bleaching Alternative: Ultraviolet Light

Day 1 Day 3 Day 4

Bleaching: Other Alternatives ● Ultra Violet light seems to be the best and least intrusive option

○ Requires significant time investment and does not completely whiten paper

● Repetitive drying and re-soaking of algae to wash out chlorophyll○ Will be energy intensive

● Chemical Bleaching is another option to explore as it will most likely be the most successful at completely removing all color

○ Effluent wastewater will have to be treated

Sustainability

● Can be used to help sequester carbon

● Make use of problematic algal blooms

● Chemical pulping techniques are not required for algae as in traditional paper pulping

● Bleaching can be accomplished through drying and UV light

http://www.clemson.edu/extension/natural_resources/water/stormwater_ponds/problem_solving/aquatic_weeds/algae_filamentous/

Thank You!Dr. Caye Drapcho

Dr. Terry Walker

Mr. Tom Jones

Cassidy Laird

Clemson University

ReferencesAyhan Demirbas, M. F. (2011). Importance of algae oil as a source of biodiesel. Energy Conversion and Management, Vol. 52, 163-170. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0196890410002761>

Teschke, K. (n.d.). Chapter 72 - Pulp and Paper Industry. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety, Chapt. 72. <http://www.ilocis.org/documents/chpt72e.htm>

Global Greenhouse Gas Reference Network (2016). Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide: Full Mauna Loa CO2 record. Earth System Research Laboratory.<http://www.esrl.noaa.gov/gmd/ccgg/trends/full.html>

Ben Xu, P. L. (2013). Study of the Flow Mixing in a novel ARID raceway for algae production. Renewable Energy Vol. 62, 249-257. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S096014811300342X>

Environmental Protection Agency (1990). Chemical Wood Pulping. Compilation of Air Pollutant Emission Factors, Ch 10 S02 <https://www3.epa.gov/ttnchie1/ap42/ch10/final/c10s02.pdf>

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (2015). Fish Pond Management Information. Common Aquatic Plant Management Problems.<http://www.dnr.sc.gov/water/aquaff/pithalgae.html>

Georgia Tech School of Economics (2003-16). Pulp Mills, Pulp & Paper Mills, Paper Mills in South Carolina. Center for Paper Business and Industry Studies.<http://www.cpbis.gatech.edu/data/mills-online-new?state=South+Carolina>

ReferencesStein, T. (2016). Carbon dioxide levels race past troubling milestone. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. <http://www.noaa.gov/stories/carbon-dioxide-levels-race-past-troubling-milestone>

Kapstone. (2016). About Kapstone. Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation. <http://www.kapstonepaper.com/about-kapstone/>

Pokhrel, D., Viraraghavan, T. (2004). Treatment of pulp and paper mill wastewater--a review. Science of the Total Environment. Vol. 333, Issues 1-3. <http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969704004279>.

Kocamemi, B. A., (n.d.). Environmental Engineering Unit Operations, Chapter 6 Mixing. Marmara University Department of Environmental Engineering. <http://mimoza.marmara.edu.tr/~bilge.alpaslan/enve301/Lectures/Chp_6.pdf>.

Questions?

Preguntas?

Les questions?

Appendices

Handsheet notes and thickness calculations Blending notes and handsheet pressure calculations