How is PAPER Made from WOOD? Amazing Paper Production Factory!

Summary

This video explains the process of how paper is made from trees. It highlights the paper industry's global scale, emphasizing the use of cellulose from fast-growing trees like eucalyptus. The video covers every step, from tree felling and reforestation to the transportation of logs, debarking, and pulp production. The process involves cooking wood chips to extract cellulose, bleaching the pulp, and forming it into paper sheets through a series of mechanical processes. The final product is tested for quality before being packaged and distributed for use.

Takeaways

• 🌍 Each year, over 400 million tons of paper are consumed globally, requiring around 15 trees to produce one ton of paper.
• 🌲 Trees like eucalyptus, birch, and poplar are widely used for their fast growth and high cellulose content in paper production.
• 🪓 The paper-making process begins with tree felling using a 25-ton forest harvester, where selected trees are cut based on age, size, and health.
• 🚛 Harvested wood is transported to the paper mill, where logs are debarked and chopped into wood chips for pulp production.
• 🌿 Pulp is made by cooking wood chips in an acidic solution, dissolving the lignin and separating the cellulose fibers.
• 🧪 After the pulp is cleaned, it is bleached using chlorine-free methods like oxygen and peroxide to make white paper.
• 📝 The bleached pulp is then processed into paper sheets through mesh screens, pressing, and drying in a continuous paper machine.
• 📊 Quality controls, including checks for strength, weight, and smoothness, are conducted throughout the process to ensure paper standards.
• 📦 Paper rolls are cut into smaller sheets or kept as large rolls, depending on customer requirements, and prepared for distribution.
• 🔄 Automated robots assist in storing and feeding paper into cutters, where production reaches up to 55,000 sheets per minute.

Q & A

How much paper is consumed worldwide each year?

More than 400 million tons of paper are consumed worldwide each year.

How many trees are needed to produce one ton of paper?

Around 15 trees are needed to produce one ton of paper.

What is the historical origin of paper?

It is believed that paper was invented in China during the Han Dynasty around the 2nd Century BC.

How has the paper production process evolved over time?

The invention of the paper machine allowed mass production in the mid-19th century, and chemical methods for bleaching pulp were introduced to improve paper quality.

What is the primary material used to make paper?

The primary material used to make paper is wood pulp, which is extracted from cellulose found in trees.

Why are eucalyptus trees widely used in paper production?

Eucalyptus trees are used because they have a high cellulose content in their wood, grow quickly, and are efficient for paper production.

How does the reforestation process contribute to the sustainability of the paper industry?

Reforestation involves planting new trees to replace those harvested, ensuring the renewal of forest resources and contributing to the sustainability of the wood supply for paper production.

What is the role of the 25-ton Forest Harvester in the paper production process?

The 25-ton Forest Harvester is used to fell selected trees in a controlled manner, turning them into manageable pieces of wood for transportation to the pulp and paper mill.

How does the paper mill process the wood to make paper?

The paper mill processes the wood by debarking the logs, cutting them into chips, and cooking the chips in a digester with an acidic solution to separate the cellulose fibers and create pulp.

What is the purpose of bleaching the pulp in the paper-making process?

Bleaching the pulp is done to remove any remaining lignin that would cause the paper to yellow over time, and it is done using chlorine-free methods like oxygen and peroxide to protect the environment.

How is the paper formed into sheets during the production process?

The paper is formed into sheets by pouring the pulp onto a continuous mesh, allowing the water to drain and the fibers to interlock. The sheet then passes through pressing and drying sections to remove water and provide strength.

What is the production rate of the paper mill mentioned in the script?

The production rate is 55,000 sheets per minute.