The Faculty of Health, Science and Technology
News
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2024-04-04
Biology educators team up with key actors in the society to support biodiversity
Researchers at Karlstad University have launched a new project, Learning and Living with Insects, which aims not only to increase understanding of our insects but also to equip society with the tools to protect biodiversity. Through innovative collaboration with various stakeholders in society, the project takes a significant step towards preserving our planet's diversity of life.
“Our mission in the Learning and Living with Insects project is to make learning about insects fun and engaging while also taking action to protect biodiversity. We've teamed up with schools, education organizations, universities, municipalities, and housing agencies to make a real difference” says Peter Lampert, leader of the project.
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2024-03-05
Research for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly pulp and paper industry
Aerobic treatment of industrial wastewater from the pulp and paper industry is the most expensive treatment step in the purification process. New research shows how the purification of wastewater from pulp manufacturing can be made more energy efficient by predicting the oxygen-transfer rate and thereby enabling a way to regulate the aeration.
- Our published study is about analysing oxygenation of water in order to predict the oxygen-transfer rate depending on the concentration of surfactants in the water, says Kamal Rezk, Senior Lecturer in Environmental and Energy Systems. The study focuses on the surfactant lauric acid, which is a common substance in contaminated water from the pulp and paper industry.
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2024-03-01
Chemical Engineering Students on Study Visit to Billerud Gruvön
The students, enrolled in the Master of Science in Chemical Engineering Programme with a focus on forest bioeconomy, had the opportunity to visit Billerud Gruvön. Among other things, they observed the massive cardboard machine KM7 and interacted with employees, deepening their knowledge of paper and cardboard manufacturing.
- This study visit was organized in conjunction with the course on bio-based materials and products, says Beko Mesic, a lecturer in chemical engineering.
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2024-02-13
The mystery around hornification about to be solved
One of the problems with paper recycling is that the fibers stiffen during the dewatering and drying processes, also known as hornification. The same thing happens to, for example, dishcloths, which stiffen over time. New research can now explain the mechanisms of hornification, knowledge that will enable us to recycle paper fibers many more times compared to today, which is five to seven times.
- Through our studies, we now know at what level of dryness the hornification process begins, already at a dry content of 20 percent, says Björn Sjöstrand, Docent in Chemical Engineering. We also know at what temperatures hornification begins, already at temperatures as low as 40° C, but the biggest changes are seen at temperatures above 100° C. The solvent also plays a role, if we replace the water in the paper pulp with other solvents, it reduces the hornification.
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2024-01-24
Sustainability assessment and bio-based production systems
Ali Mohammadi has been involved in research on sustainability assessment of bio-based systems since he began his PhD. During his doctoral project at the University of New England in Australia, he studied economic and environmental impacts of biochar and bioenergy production from agricultural biomass. As a recently appointed docent in environmental and energy system, he now focuses on analysing biochar and other bioproducts from the forest industry residues from a sustainability perspective.
- Waste from the forest industry can be transformed into valuable materials, turning what was once considered trash into useful resources as soil improvers, energy sources or absorbents in treatment plants with net zero or negative carbon emissions throughout the entire life cycle process, says Ali Mohammadi. In my research, I focus on aspects such as carbon footprint, resource efficiency, ecotoxicity and economic feasibility.
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2023-12-13
Tips for reducing food waste this Christmas
It is that time of the year when we indulge a lot more in food. Not only are we buying and eating more, we are also wasting more.
– During major food holidays, we tend to buy a little extra and things we don't normally use, increasing the risk of waste, says Helén Williams at the Service Research Center (CTF) at Karlstad University. Planning is key to minimise food waste, and save money.Households account for the largest share of food waste in Sweden. Although the amount of waste has decreased somewhat in recent years, there is still significant room for improvement, according to Helén Williams, who is an associate professor in Environment and Energy Systems and conducts research on how food packaging can held reduce food waste.