Energy Production from Natural Biopolymeric Wastes of Paper Industries to Reduce Adverse Environmental Effects

Pulp and paper industries produce various and considerable amounts and types ofenergy-rich natural biopolymeric wastes including wood wastes, residuals fromrecycled paper production process, various low-quality recovered papers and mill brokeand papermaking sludge in all mill operations including wood preparation, pulp and paperproduction, chemicals recovery, recycled papers processing and wastewater treatments.The volume of these biopolymeric wastes depends on the technological advances, pulpand paper grade and quality of the wood raw material, which provide notable opportunitiesfor the recovery of consumed energy and, especially to reduce adverse environmentaleffects in paper industries. Generally, energy recovery from natural biopolymeric wasteshas been currently considered as a desirable and feasible process in most paper industriesof the world. Application of such novel technologies in paper industries can result inhigher productivity, lower investment costs and safer operations compared to conventionalproductions that consume fossil fuels to produce energy. In addition to energy recovery,burning the natural biopolymeric wastes has some advantages such as lowering the airpollution, land-fill operations and the amount and volume of the wastes. The recoveredenergy can be used in heating systems and power production. A biorefinery bears the aim atproducing high-value bio-based chemicals rather than biofuels. The current status of worldsolid wastes and know-how knowledge of their use as an energy source in the pulp andpaper industries are reviewed in the present study.