ABSTRACT
The basic building block of all paper and paper board is cellulose. Cellulose fibres are typically obtained from wood, although straw, hemp, grass, cotton or other cellulose-based materials can be used. Paper is made from a pulp in which the raw material has been broken down into its individual cellulose fibres. Paper products include newsprint, both coated and uncoated writing and printing papers, packaging papers, packaging board and tissue. Pulping is done to break down virgin fibre material into cellulose fibres. The cellulose is bound up by lignin, and can be freed either chemically or mechanically. Mechanical pulping produces less potential pollutants, but results in a pulp which is only suitable for certain products. Pulp production is a major potential source of pollution. A wide range of processes are used, depending on the raw material used and the intended use for the pulp produced, and this means that a wide range of abatement and treatment techniques are available.
