Journal of Emerging Trends in Engineering and Applied Sciences: Research Areas

Abstract:
The recycling of waste paper is necessary to check the problem of raw material scarcity. The objectives of the study were the design and fabrication of a hydropulper and agitator unit. Design computations were carried out for the various components: hydropulper and agitator cylindrical vats, shafts, impellers and blades. The major construction material was mild steel. Other components were electric motors, gear switch, sieve, funnel and tripod legs. Fabrication operations included cutting, welding, beating, grinding and the use of fasteners. The hydropulper vat diameter was 835mm with height 910mm giving a volume 0.4217m3.The height of funnel was 140mm and the screen had 8mm diameter holes. The electric motor power rating was 7.5HP and the shaft was 1100mm long. The agitator vat diameter was 760mm, and height 870mm giving a volume of 0.3947m3.The machines were operated after loading and their performance was satisfactory. It required about 16litres of water to disintegrate 1kg of wastepaper. The slurry produced was similar in properties to those produced industrially. The study will help in the utilization of waste paper as an alternative source of raw material for pulp production and also provide an environment friendly means of disposing waste paper in Nigeria. Modifications and improvement can be easily achieved as well as the prohibitive cost of industrial scale machines would be addressed as the machines from the study are cheaper.

Keywords: waste paper recycling, pulp slurry, agitator, hydropulper, recycling machine

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