Paper is made from cellulose, the source of which can be wood, grass, baggase, shrub and waste paper. Plant fibre is the principal structural and materials for paper production, although some extensive great papers are produced from linen, textile rags and cottons. Other raw materials used in paper production include additives such as clay, dyes(included to impact desire shades and colour), china clay or tyoline which is included in paper stock to give added density at cheaper cost than its equivalent weight and also enhances opacity, brightness, smoothness and printability of the paper. Sizing agent are also added to paper stock to improve the stability and water repellant. Water constitute a major solvent used in large proportion during paper production.
-Fabrilization or dispersal of fibres (plant material) in water(dissolving)
-Filteration of fibres from the slury to form a uniform distribution layer of paper mats
-Screening involves seperation of the uniformly formed paper mat from the machine through couching
-Felting involves removal of excess water from the paper mat through the use of woven thick textile materials called belt
-Paper drying and finishings
WASTE PAPER RECYCLING
Recycling is the process of converting old or used materials to new products. Recycling of used material is a long established practice which is highly dependent on the economic, social and political factors. Paper recycling is the process of turning or converting used paper, waste or old paper into new products. Used or old paper such as newspaper, cardboards, paperboards, catalogues, greeting cards and other miscellaneous are recycled in most paper industries. In technical terms a recycle paper is a paper produced from fibre that has been subjected to mini process at least on two occasions.
Paper can be recycles 5-7 times before the fibres becomes too short or weak for recycle. In most instance the recycled products are fortified with virgin fibre to achieve acceptable strength properties. Recycle products often carries a symbol that indicates the paper to be acceptable and environmentally friendly products. The use of waste paper is partly stimulated by the growing perception that there are limitations in the production of virgin fibre, other attraction toward the use of waste paper is that they are good as virgin products. Stages involved in waste paper recycling includes ; collection, sorting, storage of different categories of papers, pulping or repulping, cleaning, de-inking and refining or bleaching and colour stripping.
