e-Business and collaboration: A case study of pulp supply chain

This thesis studies how the case company could digitalize its supply chain and what kind of advantages this would create in the light of supply chain efficiency. The case company manufactures several pulp products that are used for paper, fabrics and packaging products by customers worldwide. The paper and pulp industry has been paying more and more attention to increasing supply chain efficiency with new operating and service models made possible by today’s information technology. The main focus of this study is on the supply chain between the case company and its key customers and the goal is to find ways to make the operations between them as efficient as possible. The study relays heavily on collaboration techniques and digitalization technologies. In addition to a theoretical framework, the study includes several empirical studies that offer real-life examples of how these theories and technologies are applied in operating environments similar to the case company. A plan with strategic and operational levels is created according to the findings of the previous sections to support the case company’s future operations. The plan is based on an RFID-supported collaboration model that aims to advance information sharing between the supply chain partners. The time for an RFID-investment is sought to be very optimal and the benefits of such system to be noteworthy, but challenging to measure in monetary terms.

Production planning and optimization of a pulp mill: introduction of the optimisation based scheduling software for pulp industry

The objective of this project was to introduce a new software product to pulp industry, a new market for case company. An optimization based scheduling tool has been developed to allow pulp operations to better control their production processes and improve both production efficiency and stability. Both the work here and earlier research indicates that there is a potential for savings around 1-5%. All the supporting data is available today coming from distributed control systems, data historians and other existing sources. The pulp mill model together with the scheduler, allows what-if analyses of the impacts and timely feasibility of various external actions such as planned maintenance of any particular mill operation. The visibility gained from the model proves also to be a real benefit. The aim is to satisfy demand and gain extra profit, while achieving the required customer service level. Research effort has been put both in understanding the minimum features needed to satisfy the scheduling requirements in the industry and the overall existence of the market. A qualitative study was constructed to both identify competitive situation and the requirements vs. gaps on the market. It becomes clear that there is no such system on the marketplace today and also that there is room to improve target market overall process efficiency through such planning tool. This thesis also provides better overall understanding of the different processes in this particular industry for the case company.

CFD modeling of dispersion water feed in wastewater cleaning application

Fluid particle breakup and coalescence are important phenomena in a number of industrial flow systems. This study deals with a gas-liquid bubbly flow in one wastewater cleaning application. Three-dimensional geometric model of a dispersion water system was created in ANSYS CFD meshing software. Then, numerical study of the system was carried out by means of unsteady simulations performed in ANSYS FLUENT CFD software. Single-phase water flow case was setup to calculate the entire flow field using the RNG k-epsilon turbulence model based on the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations. Bubbly flow case was based on a computational fluid dynamics - population balance model (CFD-PBM) coupled approach. Bubble breakup and coalescence were considered to determine the evolution of the bubble size distribution. Obtained results are considered as steps toward optimization of the cleaning process and will be analyzed in order to make the process more efficient.

Pressforming of a tray from a pulp sheet

The aim of this thesis work was to verify the possibility to produce tray packages directly from pulp sheets using press forming techniques. The different existing raw materials of pulp, various sources of molded pulp and different methods of production of molded pulp were studied. Nine different raw materials which were used for experimental work were provided by Stora Enso mills, and Stora Enso Research Centre, Imatra, Finland. The laboratory tests were carried out using LUT Adjustable packaging line at Lappeenranta University of Technology. The results prove that long virgin fibres of pine pulp seems to have better formability with high moisture content compared to others. No significant improvements were noticed with conditioned samples, never the less far studies has to be done to find optimal conditions for production. The results indicated the possibility for making pressformed tray from two different pulp qualities (Sunila pulp and Enopine). The method could prove to be beneficiary as the production line could be shortened and investment in board machines could be avoided if the trays were pressed directly from pulp sheets. Also the labour costs would be reduced. However, there is much work to be done before the quality of a tray produced out of a pulp sheet is comparable to a tray produced out of tray board.

Explaining the Shifts of International Trade in Pulp and Paper Industry

The pulp and paper industry is currently facing broad structural changes due to global shifts in demand and supply. These changes have significant impacts on national economies worldwide. In this paper, we describe the recent trends in the pulp and recovered paper (RP) production, and estimate augmented gravity models of bilateral trade for chemical pulp and RP exports with panel data. According to our results, there is some variation in the effects of the traditional gravity-model variables between pulp grades and RP. The results imply also that, in comparison to export supply, import demand plays a larger role in determining the volume of exports. Finally, it is evident that Asia, particularly China, is the most important driver of chemical pulp and RP trade: China is hungry for fiber, and must import to satisfy its growing needs. Moreover, the speed of China’s growth in chemical pulp and RP imports has been driving the increased significance of planted forests in the exports of hardwood pulp (BHKP) as well.

Antenna feed design for omnidirectional broadband antenna

This thesis is about development broadband feed for two-mirror antenna system that match following requirements: beamwidth from 45 to 90 degrees at -3 dB level, circular polarization, absence of radiation to the lower hemisphere area. Literature review was done in the areas of the UWB antennas creation. During the work attempts were made to create a feed in a form of the quad ridged horn and "eleven" antennas. The latter is introduced as the most effective feed among all antennas discussed in thesis. Radiation patterns and other results for "eleven" antenna were obtained. Results were saved as far field sources and placed slightly below focal point into the two-mirror antenna system, because phase center of the “eleven” antenna is predominantly shifted upwards. Directivity patterns for the two-mirror system were obtained and the conclusions about the work results have been made

Lipopolysaccharide-induced dental pulp cell apoptosis and the expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in vitro

Lipopolysaccharide exerts many effects on many cell lines, including cytokine secretion, and cell apoptosis and necrosis. We investigated the in vitro effects of lipopolysaccharide on apoptosis of cultured human dental pulp cells and the expression of Bcl-2 and Bax. Dental pulp cells showed morphologies typical of apoptosis after exposure to lipopolysaccharide. Flow cytometry showed that the rate of apoptosis of human dental pulp cells increased with increasing lipopolysaccharide concentration. Compared with controls, lipopolysaccharide promoted pulp cell apoptosis (P < 0.05) from 0.1 to 100 μg/mL but not at 0.01 μg/mL. Cell apoptosis was statistically higher after exposure to lipopolysaccharide for 3 days compared with 1 day, but no difference was observed between 3 and 5 days. Immunohistochemistry showed that expression of Bax and Bcl-2 was enhanced by lipopolysaccharide at high concentrations, but no evident expression was observed at low concentrations (0.01 and 0.1 μg/mL) or in the control groups. In conclusion, lipopolysaccharide induced dental pulp cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, but apoptosis did not increase with treatment duration. The expression of the apoptosis regulatory proteins Bax and Bcl-2 was also up-regulated in pulp cells after exposure to a high concentration of lipopolysaccharide.

Air blast freezing of fruit pulp models in commercial boxes: influence of preferential channels in the bed on freezing times estimating

The freezing times of fruit pulp models packed and conditioned in multi-layered boxes were evaluated under conditions similar to those employed commercially. Estimating the freezing time is a difficult practice due to the presence of significant voids in the boxes, whose influence may be analyzed by means of various methods. In this study, a procedure for estimating freezing time by using the models described in the literature was compared with experimental measurements by collecting time/temperature data. The following results show that the airflow through packages is a significant parameter for freezing time estimation. When the presence of preferential channels was considered, the predicted freezing time in the models could be 10% lower than the experimental values, depending on the method. The isotherms traced as a function of the location of the samples inside the boxes showed the displacement of the thermal center in relation to the geometric center of the product.

Structural dynamics in the global pulp and paper industry

The pulp and paper industry is currently facing broad structural changes due to global shifts in demand and supply. These changes have significant impacts on national economies worldwide. Planted forests (especially eucalyptus) and recovered paper have quickly increased their importance as raw material for paper and paperboard production. Although advances in information and communication technologies could reduce the demand for communication papers, and the growth of paper consumption has indeed flattened in developed economies, particularly in North America and Western Europe, the consumption is increasing on a global scale. Moreover, the focal point of production and consumption is moving from the Western world to the rapidly growing markets of Southeast Asia. This study analyzes how the so-called megatrends (globalization, technological development, and increasing environmental awareness) affect the pulp and paper industry’s external environment, and seeks reliable ways to incorporate the impact of the megatrends on the models concerning the demand, trade, and use of paper and pulp. The study expands current research in several directions and points of view, for example, by applying and incorporating several quantitative methods and different models. As a result, the thesis makes a significant contribution to better understand and measure the impacts of structural changes on the pulp and paper industry. It also provides some managerial and policy implications.

Polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase in avocado pulp (Persea americana Mill.)

The aim of the present investigation was to evaluate the enzymatic activity of polyphenoloxidase and peroxidase in avocado pulps, from the Northwest area of Paraná-Brazil, in order to compare the varieties on their enzymatic activity for both, minimum and industrial processing. Enzymatic extracts were prepared from avocado pulp of Choquete, Fortuna and Quintal varieties, in green and ripe maturation stage. Thermal treatment was applied with temperatures 60, 65, 70, 75 and 80 °C. The enzymatic activities were determined by using spectrophotometer. A decline of polyphenoloxidase activity was observed in all of the varieties when both, temperature and time increased. Total inactivation of enzymes was not observed in the largest temperature. Fortuna and Choquete variety showed the lowest polyphenoloxidase activity in the ripe stage. Soluble peroxidase showed activity in the green stage, whereas, ionically bound peroxidase activity increased with the change from green to ripe maturation stage in Choquete variety.

Effect of drying method on the adsorption isotherms and isosteric heat of passion fruit pulp powder

The sorption behavior of dry products is generally affected by the drying method. The sorption isotherms are useful to determine and compare thermodynamic properties of passion fruit pulp powder processed by different drying methods. The objective of this study is to analyze the effects of different drying methods on the sorption properties of passion fruit pulp powder. Passion fruit pulp powder was dehydrated using different dryers: vacuum, spray dryer, vibro-fluidized, and freeze dryer. The moisture equilibrium data of Passion Fruit Pulp (PFP) powders with 55% of maltodextrin (MD) were determined at 20, 30, 40 and 50 ºC. The behavior of the curves was type III, according to Brunauer's classification, and the GAB model was fitted to the experimental equilibrium data. The equilibrium moisture contents of the samples were little affected by temperature variation. The spray dryer provides a dry product with higher adsorption capacity than that of the other methods. The vibro-fluidized bed drying showed higher adsorption capacity than that of vacuum and freeze drying. The vacuum and freeze drying presented the same adsorption capacity. The isosteric heats of sorption were found to decrease with increasing moisture content. Considering the effect of drying methods, the highest isosteric heat of sorption was observed for powders produced by spray drying, whereas powders obtained by vacuum and freeze drying showed the lowest isosteric heats of sorption.

Antioxidant activity, cito- and phototoxicity of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) seed pulp extract

In the present work, a hydroethanolic extract was prepared from the entire seeds of pomegranate [Punica granatum L. (Punicaceae)] with Cachaça, a distilled Brazilian alcoholic beverage, protected from light for an 80-hour period. The desorption curve of the seeds, presented an optimal time extraction of approximately 24 hours. The extract was divided into two samples: protected from light, (Extract 1), or not, (Extract 2). The extracts were characterized by UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy, quantification of total phenolics by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, and the antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH quenching method. Extract 2 presented 9.8% less total polyphenols than Extract 1. The pomegranate seeds extract lost 79% of its antioxidant activity during light exposure. Extract 1 up to 3% (w/v) showed neither cyto nor phototoxicity in the Hela cells. In conclusion, Punica granatum L. seeds contain a significant total polyphenol and TEAC amount and they can be used in simple extractive process, by direct contact with Cachaça in up to 80 hours in the darkness, which gives it good coloration, taste, and smell. This extract showed neither cytotoxicity nor post-irradiation phototoxicity with solar simulator even though the extract proved photoinstable.

Rheological behavior of corn and soy mix as feed ingredients

Foods behave as non-Newtonian fluids, but little is known about how corn and soybean mix behave under viscometric flow. In order to characterize the rheological behavior of animal feed under viscometric flow, a 70:30 (mass:mass) mixture of ground corn and soybean grains was submitted to a capillary rheometer at 3 different temperatures (80, 120, and 160 °C), different moisture levels (26.5 ± 0.08; 30.4 ± 0.31, and 33.4 ± 0.05%), and 4 shear rates (30.4; 72.9; 304.3, and 728.6/second). Different strain rates and die dimensions were used to obtain the target shear rates. The resulting data were fitted to Power Law, Casson, and Bingham models. Based on experimental data, water content, mass temperature, and the effects of shear rate on the apparent shear viscosity of corn-soy mix were fitted to a single expression (p < 0.001, R² = 0.93): η = 18,769.7 (y)-0.86 e (-9.34 U + 935 T), where y is shear rate, U is sample moisture, and T is sample temperature in Kelvin scale. As expected, such mixture presented a pseudoplastic (shear-thinning) behavior.