Beneficiation of forestry biomass waste streams
Grant holder: Dr B Sithole
Institution: CSIR
Grant: CSIR/IU/WRIU/2016/003
Duration: 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2019
Status: Complete
Project outline: This project is focused on the development of new value chains from saw mill waste (saw dust and wood chips) and sludge from pulp and paper mill operations. The idea is to extract valuable chemicals from saw dust and wood chips and nanocrystalline cellulose from the left over fibres and from fibres in the mill sludge. Success in the project will result in complete value chains for the industry with none of these wastes going to landfill.
| » | Briefing note: Opportunities for new biorefinery products from forestry, timber, pulp and paper wastes. |
| » | Dissertation: Rorke, DCS. (2021). Treatment and beneficiation of kraft mill sludge to hydrogen and methane for bioenergy production. Doctoral dissertation. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal. |
| » | Dissertation: Singh, S. (2021). Polyhydroxyalkanoate production by Bacillus thuringiensis – An aspect of biorefining pulp and paper mill sludge. Doctoral dissertation. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal. |
| » | Dissertation: Badat, Z. (2019). Beneficiation of sawdust: Chemical fractionation of lipophilic extractives. Master’s dissertation. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal. |
| » | Dissertation: Andrew, J.E. (2018). Beneficiation of sawdust waste material within the context of an integrated forest biorefinery. Doctoral dissertation. Durban: University of KwaZulu-Natal. |
| » | Publication: Singh, S., Sithole, B. et al. (2021). Pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification of sludge from a prehydrolysis kraft and kraft pulping mill. J Wood Chem Technol, 41(1) |
| » | Publication: Gibril, M.E., Ahmed, K. et al. (2019). Effect of nanocrystalline cellulose and zinc oxide hybrid organic-inorganic nanofiller on the physical properties of polycaprolactone nanocomposite films. Microsyst Technol (2019). |
| » | Publication: Kekana, P.T., Sithole, B.B. and Ramjugernath, D. (2019). Ultrafiltration of lignin from black liquor: Modelling decline in flux. J. Sc & Ind Res., 78: 91-95. |
| » | Publication: Gibril, M.E., Lekha, P., Andrew, J., Sithole, B., Tesfaye, R. and Ramjugernath, D. (2018). Beneficiation of pulp and paper mill sludge: production and characterisation of functionalised crystalline nanocellulose. Clean Technologies and Environmental Policy, 20:1835-1845. |
| » | Publication: Gibril, M.E., Tesfaye, R. et al. (2018). Optimisation and enhancement of crystalline nanocellulose production by ultrasonic pretreatment of dissolving wood pulp fibres. Cellulose Chem. Technol., 52 (9-10): 711-727. |
| » | Publication: Lekha, P., Andrew, J.E., Gibril, M. and Sithole, B. (2017). Pulp and Paper mill sludge: A potential resource for producing high-value products, TAPPSA 1:16-19 |