Feb 3 2011
Last week farmers and academics met to discuss innovations and technology in the non-wood paper industry at a meeting held at University of Washington, College of Forest Resources.
Dr. William McKean, Professor of Paper Science and Engineering, has developed a process to manufacture paper made from straw pulps of various derivations. Using the New Logic Research Vibratory Shear Enhanced Process (VSEP) technology, Dr. McKean's integrated system is currently in lab-scale mode at the university and has proven successful in making paper products that are both commercially viable and environmentally sound.
The meeting covered both the science and the logistics of developing pulping plants. Building in close proximity to Eastern Washington wheat farms allows farmers to process straw debris and extract its valuable lignins and glycols, along with essential minerals such as potassium, phosphorous, and nitrogen; these minerals can then be returned to crop soils.
Greg Johnson, CEO of New Logic Research from Emeryville, California, was in attendance to explain how VSEP technology performs the integral task of filtering the pulp by-product known as black liquor, separating the valuable lignin from the wood sugars and minerals. All of these filtered materials can be sold to their respective markets, affording farmers another revenue stream with the residual wheat straw. Historically, eliminating the waste straw meant burning the debris, and farmers often pay by the acre to do so.
Johnson spoke about New Logic's position in the endeavor, as well as the new business landscape afforded by McKean's work: "Dr. McKean's extensive research has shown definitively that VSEP is highly effective in recovering valuable byproducts from the paper-making process. The only thing more gratifying than seeing his pilot plant running smoothly is meeting with the farmers who will directly benefit from the new process. These stewards of the land understand better than anyone what's at stake here, and we're proud to be an integral part of this cutting-edge approach."
Source: http://www.vsep.com/