BOOSTEFF

Boosting raw material and energy efficiency using advanced sheet structure design and fibre modifications

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'BoostEff aims at developing new innovative manufacturing concepts for wood-fibre based products giving a significant reduction in environmental footprint. The targeted products are important commodities for the European society: paper and construction board. In spite of the different end uses, the paper making and construction board sectors share wood fibres as a common raw material and convert them into planar structures in which all materials are mixed with limited optimization of their performance. The common features of the three BoostEff Concepts is that they result in tailor-made layered structures: wood-fibres and other materials will be placed in the optimal position for the required functionality. This is achieved by developing and demonstrating separation and layering processes in connection with selective modification of sub-streams of the raw materials. The large potential of these process concepts within papermaking was shown in the FP6-project Ecotarget, where technologies were developed to perform these processes. BoostEff will transfer these techniques into a demonstration and industrial implementation phase in a multi-sectorial context. The BoostEff Concepts will be developed at pilot scale and implemented in full scale in three production units of the industrial partners in the project. Process and product development will proceed in parallel. This includes work for preparing the data necessary in order to proceed into investment projects at the targeted production units at the end of BoostEff. These results will be applicable not only for the specific production units but also serve as a basis for investments elsewhere within the two targeted industrial sectors. It is envisioned that the BoostEff project will contribute to developing more cost efficient and eco efficient processes and technologies, which will result in an upgraded profile for the targeted commodity products.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Paper and construction board are important commodities in European society. EU-funded scientists demonstrated full-scale production units showcasing eco-friendly processing techniques that enhance product functionality.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Production of wood fibre-based products consumes a considerable amount of raw materials and energy. EU-funded scientists working on the project http://www.boosteff.com/ (BOOSTEFF) developed novel processes that not only tremendously improve efficiency but also enable improved product properties.

The targeted products are made from a single stream of wood fibres that is processed into planar structures. However, the raw material is heterogeneous with fibres and particles of varying length and flexibility. Exploiting the heterogeneity for advanced functionality was the driver behind the BOOSTEFF project.

Scientists built on two different separation and layering processes developed in the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) project ECOTARGET. Stratified forming is used to produce optimised layered-sheet structures. Advanced fibre fractionation is employed to separate fibre types and selectively modify different fractions according to desired product characteristics.

The BOOSTEFF consortium brought these processes to full-scale demonstration in production units for coated and uncoated publication paper grades and for construction board products. The concepts were shown to have important impact on the environmental footprint of production through decreased energy consumption, raw material usage and operating costs. Commercialisation will thus enhance the position of EU paper and construction board manufacturers and of the EU economy while fostering development of novel and improved products for consumers.