CONSERVATION OF MATERIALS AND ENERGY IN A PAPER PLANT

Abstract

Paper is a basic need of modern life and plays a vital role in the progress of education, communication, packaging & overall standard of living of people. The per capita consumption of paper in a country is. taken as a yard stick of the level of development of the country. This industry is known to be highly capital, raw-material and energy intensive industry with heavy pollution loads. The first paper mill in India came up in 1812 at SERAMPORE (West Bengal) which also had the 'credit of using the first fourdrinier machine in 1932. From a capacity of 45,000 Tonnes in 1930, the production jumped to one Lakh Tonnes in 1950 and to 1 Million Tonnes by 1960. The industry saw many changes like use of Sabai grass, Hemp, Rags, Jute and Bamboo. Recovery of chemicals from bamboo black liquors & use of hard wood was adopted in-creasingly. The 60's saw a growth in indeginous pulp & paper machinery manufacture while a large number of small paper mills came up in the late 60's and 70's, using agricultural residues & waste paper. The capacity utilisation of the industry went down from about 98% in the early 70's to 60% in late 80's. The problems relating to raw material shortages, energy shortages,environmental management and poor profitability harassed the industry in the recent past...........