CO ORDINATED IN D U ST R IA L W A ST E RESEARCH *
By Harry W . Ge h m
T e ch n ica l A d v is o r , N a tio n a l C o u ncil f o r S tre a m Im p ro v e m e n t, P u lp , P a p e r and P a p e rb o a rd In d u s t r ie s , I n c ., N ew Y o rlc, N . Y .
In passing from individualized and small group research on manu
facturing wastes and stream pollution to an integrated national pro
gram, the pulp, paper and paperboard industries have embarked upon a pioneering experiment, which, if successful, may well become the model for other industries. The National Council for Stream Improve
ment which will undertake this work is at present supported by 75 per cent of this industry and is rapidly expanding. As the name implies, this organization is concerned with stream improvement and, while re
search will be one of its important functions, it is a means to an end and not the end itself. Hence, provision has been made to implement the assembly of problems, institute research and apply the fruits thereof to the solution of immediate pollution problems. Agreements whereby existing knowledge and successful methods of waste handling will be shared and applied have been instigated. Adequate financing is provided by an annual budget of $150,000 to which might be added an equivalent sum now expended in existing regional projects. These sums are exclusive of expenditures for work carried on by individual mills concerning problems peculiar to their plants.
Those of us concerned with organizing and getting the Council func
tioning have found this an involved and fascinating task. It has been our job to think out and execute a coordinated plan of action which would be acceptable to all responsible bodies concerned and show rea
sonable promise of successful development. We believe that it would be of interest to this group to review in general the plans worked out and now being executed by the Council.
Perhaps the most important consideration involved in this program was to bring together the technically qualified groups involved and in
terested in stream pollution, and to have them agree on courses of ac
tion whereby they would work together toward solutions to these prob
lems to mutual advantage. Despite the existence of some conflicting interests, we were firmly of the belief that these were overshadowed hy common interests. This thesis has appeared more and more reason
able as relationships have developed. Groups, which were of necessity included, were as follows:
* Presented at 17th Annual Meeting, New York State Sewage Works Association New York City, January 19, 1945.
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(1) Pulp, paper and paperboard industries.
(2) Pollution control agencies.
(3) Resources, conservation and development agencies.
(4) Research organizations.
(5) Other industries.
(6) W ater control bodies.
The method devised to bring these agencies together throughout the areas of the country where the industry is located involves seven re
gional committees, consisting of representatives of executive and tech
nical capacity empowered to speak for their companies. These men were selected in such a manner that all products manufactured in the region are represented, as well as each watershed area containing this industry. Through meetings of these committees, together with the Council’s staff and interested agencies, a firm foundation for coopera
tion has already been established and it appears that, in the future, deci
sions involving procedure leading to stream improvement will be worked out to mutual advantage.
It is the function of the regional committees to assemble, with the aid of the Council’s technical staff, research and experience of indi
vidual companies in waste treatment, recovery and utilization. This material will provide data helpful to some mills where immediate appli
cation of such information can be made. It will also prevent duplica
tion of effort and investment in unsuccessful devices, as well as provide the background for the third committee function, which is the assembly of problems for the research groups and the designation of priorities for them.. Assistance in the latter function will be obtained from stream control agencies. When decisions are reached, it then becomes the duty of the Council’s staff to provide ways and means of gettting the work done.
The multiplicity of waste and stream problems and the geographical distribution of the industry demanded that research projects be spread throughout the country. It was immediately evident, however, that the services of a major, centralized research organization were necessary, which organization would pursue problems of wide interest to the in
dustry and serve as a contact group with other industries, wherein the use of certain waste material might be involved. This organization would also serve as an advisory agent and assist in assembling problems.
The Council was fortunate in obtaining the services of the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research to act in this capacity. A multiple fellowship was established at this institution under the direction of Dr.
George Beal. Here a well-rounded technical staff is being developed which is equipped with chemical and engineering laboratories. This unit will be able to handle a wide variety of problems, as experts in organic, physical, sanitary and engineering chemistry will be included.
The first assignment of this group has been to review published litera
ture, prior art on the treatment, recovery and utilization of pulp, paper
784 SEWAGE WORKS JOURNAL July, 1945
and paperboard wastes, with regard to modern technology, and to sub
mit a series of reports containing summaries of such work for each class of wastes, including recommendations as to lines of further study.
These reports will, together with the industry experience and problem assembly, serve as a basis for decisions relating to other research projects.
The Council has entered into an agreement with the Institute of Paper Chemistry regarding maintenance of a complete bibliography on pulp and paper wastes, whereby all such information published will be available to research groups on a current basis.
It is now well recognized that one important function of a stream is the purification of wastes. Streams are, and will always be, employed for this purpose, but it is necessary in so using a stream not to overtax its ability to do this or destroy the water for the uses to which it is nor
mally put. Upon this basis, the waste loading must be predicated. As much data concerning the character of streams and the discharge of wastes are available and more are forthcoming, the Council has estab
lished a project at Manhattan College under Professor C. J. Velz, Head of the Civil Engineering Department, under which such data will be assembled and analyzed for the purpose of determining the relative responsibility for pollution of the pulp and paper industry, municipali
ties and other industries on the watersheds concerned. W hat degree of abatement the mills must provide to put these waters in satisfactory condition for the uses to which they are to be put, if others concerned do their share, will be determined. The information provided by this work will also assist the research and technical staffs in evaluating the magnitude of usefulness of processes under development.
Regional projects supported by the Council will be placed on the basis of four considerations, which are as follows:
1. Concentration of particular product production.
2. Severity of the stream problems.
3. Facilities of research organizations in the region.
4. Facilities of the regional mills for assisting in the work.
In some cases these will be placed at university and research labora
tories and in others at mills. Particular attention will be paid to adapt
ing processes to actual mill conditions and to the improvement of unit processes and sewering within the mills to reduce waste discharge.
Many of the larger mills have stream, waste and by-product research laboratories. In several instances, groups of the industry concerned with common problems have supported research projects directed to
ward finding a solution to these. Government laboratories have also embarked on research along related lines. To date, the Council has established close working relations with these organizations, which will undoubtedly go far toward rapidly increasing our knowledge of the subject.
As research becomes productive, provision must be made for its direct application. Prosecution of this function is the responsibility of the technical staff. It is planned that further development of processes forthcoming from the various laboratories will be carried through the pilot, demonstration or full-scale plant development, as indicated at the mills themselves. Where necessary, assistance will be provided by re
search organizations employed by the Council; general supervision coming under the technical advisor’s office. Offers to finance construc
tion of such units have been received from a number of member com
panies. The development departments of several equipment companies have expressed interest in assisting in these projects and will, undoubt
edly, give valuable aid in the future.
The findings of the various research, development and survey groups will be made available to all member industry, through the Council’s office, and the adoption of particular processes to individual mills will be a function of the staff and research personnel. General advice and information regarding waste problems will also be provided as well as mill survey services.
During the six months of its activity, the Council has moved steadily toward the development of this program and the next year should see it well under way.
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