Developing a Robust Synthetic and Characterization Procedures for Biopolymers in the Pulp and Paper Industry

Cascades is one of the most renowned multinational Canadian companies with nearly 80 production units and employs more than 10,500 individuals spread across Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1964 in Kingsey Falls, Quebec, and specializes in the pulp and paper production, processing and marketing in packaging and hygiene solutions made primarily from recycled fibres. Recently, the R&D team identified one specific biopolymer that is particularly promising for designing new added-value products. From a chemical point of view, the biopolymer constitutes a promising platform to develop additives given its high degree of functionality. The research team at Cascades tried to utilize this biopolymer as strengthening agent in the fabrication of paper, but they rapidly faced important challenges preventing them to achieve a performant and scalable strengthening agent. These includes low molecular weight of the biopolymers, low charge density and difficult characterization. Building from the existing relationship, the goal of this NSERC Alliance partnership is the development and optimization of this novel functionalized biopolymers prepared from the biopolymeric platform generated at Cascades….

Faculty Supervisor:

Simon Rondeau-Gagné

Student:

Partner:

Cascades Services et Achats

Discipline:

Physics

Sector:

Manufacturing

University:

University of Windsor

Program: