Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology

GENERAL OBJECTIVES

Fundamental research through doctoral theses as well as applied research at laboratory and pilot plant scales are proposed in this programme. Industrial implementation of the obtained Forestry and Cellulose Institute results is also taken into consideration. This programme is conducted in partnership with other research organisations, especially EFPG and the CNRS laboratories.

CTP and AFOCEL have decided to work more close in order to propose pulp and paper manufacturers expertise for the whole Forest-Wood-Paper chain. In this programme, two projects related to wood species valorisation and biotechnology use will be carried out with scientists from AFOCEL and CTP.

CTP and EFPG have been partners for a long time, particularly through the CTP-EFPG-CNRS basic research structure, Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR). CTP and EFPG cooperate in the field of Wood Chemistry and Pulp Technology in order to communicate the synergy, co-operation and expertise existing between the two institutions. Several doctoral theses are in progress.

CTP has also some on-going cooperation with INRA - Laboratoire de biotechnologie des champignons filamenteux - regarding the development of biotechnologies in pulping processes and CERMAV for fibre characterisation at the ultrastructural level.

The main objectives of this programme are:

Reduction of production costs in chemical pulp (pulp yield and bleaching chemical costs)
Better use of energy in high-yield pulping to reduce the costs,
Improvement of pulp quality,
Better understanding of pulping and bleaching processes,
Development of new processes for pulping and bleaching, including processes with low environmental impact and biotechnologies.

The research strategy used is based on a better understanding of the mechanisms of pulping and bleaching to enhance existing processes. In improving the quality of paper from virgin fibres, this research programme is axed on better characterisation of the fibres and on the identification of the process elements, which modify these characteristics.