Modification of hard wood pulp for tissue production honored with Valmet Tissue Technology Award
Mar 31, 2015
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Abdus Salam was honored with Valmet Tissue Technology Award |
The purpose of Valmet's Tissue Technology Award is to promote university students' or scientists' work to develop environmentally sound products applicable to tissue making processes. The award is granted every second year and the total prize amount is USD 25,000. The winner of the 2015 Award is Abdus Salam from the Research Associate of North Carolina State University, USA.
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Mr. Salam is awarded for his work focused on modified hardwood pulp for tissue production. The objective of the work has been to develop a method to provide unique tissue characteristics using only natural materials. By modifying hard wood pulp it can be cross-linked with a biodegradable product to greatly improve the absorbency properties. The modified product is elastic, very soft, highly porous and durable. It has also antimicrobial properties.
“We are constantly searching for new innovations to make the tissue process more sustainable and environmentally efficient. Mr. Salam’s innovation is well in line with our strategy and shows how biomaterials can be utilized to add new and improved properties to tissue products. This is an excellent example of how scientists and the academic world can contribute to the important work of developing sustainable solutions for the future of tissue-making,” says Anders Björn, Vice President, Tissue Mills business unit, Valmet.
Abdus Salam was born in Bangladesh from where he has a Ph.D. in applied chemistry at the University of Rajshahi. To improve the standards of sanitation and cleanliness in his home country he has dedicated his research to improve the quality of life in Bangladesh and similar countries. He has already worked on a water purification system which is now actively marketed for licensing.
Since ten years he is living in the US where he has a Post Doctor degree in polymer chemistry from University of Nebraska-Lincoln, United States. In May he will be defending his second Ph.D. at North Carolina State University focusing on his research on hard wood pulp.
“I greatly appreciate the award committee’s selection of my research for Valmet Tissue Technology Award of 2015. This is my first international award which has truly inspired me to develop new products and ideas for tissue and paper towel applications. I believe the research developments related to modifying hard wood pulp can significantly contribute to the personal health care sector as well as the global economy,” says Abdus Salam, the winner of the Valmet Tissue Technology Award.