Our Research Projects

Key partners in this project’s research component are CBPPL, GC, and CNA. This component of the project consists of two phases: first, the identification of incremental innovation opportunities for mill by-products for use in western Newfoundland’s agriculture sector, and more long-term radical innovation opportunities for high-tech bio-based product development. By focusing the first phase of research projects on by-product upcycling for soil amendment and other uses, the project delivers direct benefits to the region by building capacity to achieve food security. The research partners have agreed to a research agenda focused on 1) better utilization of ash and sludge from the mill, 2) composting wood waste, 3) utilizing waste heat from the mill in a greenhouse initiative, and 4) exploring international marketing opportunities for current and potential paper products.

The research component of the project responds to a need for post-secondary-industry collaboration to ensure long-term regional employment and training opportunities and will strengthen the position of CBPPL through improved competitiveness and repositioning from its current newsprint focus to diversification through research and development. The long-term sustainability of the mill will require CBPPL to pivot away from newsprint to new product lines in growing markets such as bio-based sustainable materials. The project will facilitate research to encourage environmentally sustainable industry practices and investigate new opportunities in clean technology (e.g., through projects such as studying the use of waste heat from the mill to power a commercial greenhouse that will also address concerns related to food security and the availability of local produce). The projects within the research component hope to sustain CBPPL’s place as a significant regional employer into the future and to strengthen the economy of western NL by building on the mill’s existing knowledge and by exploring related opportunities in high-tech, high growth sectors.

Current research projects on the use of waste by-products of the mill and new product development include:

 

Feasibility study of greenhouse facility to use mill by-products

Funded by: Mitacs, ACOA, IET, and CBPPL.

The proposed project examines the potential for the use of heat by-products from Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Ltd. (CBPPL). One potential option for utilizing this waste is a greenhouse facility. Such a facility could support experiments related to the other research projects of the Centre of Research and Innovation Project and potentially, in the future, for growing produce for the local market. Exploration of the greenhouse project options focuses on three by-products, including waste heat but also wood ash and a sludge derivative of the pulping process. Combined in a greenhouse facility, there is potential for the re-use of these resources to considerably reduce the waste stream of CBPPL and related costs while delivering positive social and environmental impacts to Corner Brook and the wider western Newfoundland region.

Previous research has uncovered significant heating potential from the effluent disposed of by CBPPL, as well as market demand in NL for local greenhouse vegetable production and public receptivity to the idea of using this heat and other by-products to construct a greenhouse.

The overall objectives of this project are to:

Assess available heat energy from CBPPL water outfall.

Assess the potential for greenhouse production utilizing heat energy in this particular setting, including technological, financial, legislative, and human resource needs of the project and potential ongoing research opportunities related to these findings, based on different scenarios (e.g., commercial production, experimental use, etc.).

Conduct a business case analysis for the greenhouse in a scenario of the commercial production of products for the western Newfoundland market and construct a greenhouse based on the business model developed.

 

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Mumtaz Cheema (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

 

Co-Investigators:

Dr. Kelly Vodden (Environmental Policy Institute, School of Science and the Environment, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Lakshman Galagedara (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Mery Perez (Environmental Policy Institute, School of Science and the Environment, Office of Research and Graduate Studies, Grenfell Campus)

 

Interns:

Nadeem Muhammad (PDF, School of Science and the Environment, Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, Grenfell Campus)

Elmaddin Bayramov (MAEP Candidate, Environmental Policy Institute, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Co-Supervisors: Dr. Kelly Vodden, Dr. Mery Perez

Thesis title: Evaluation of the Role of Key Actors of Regional Innovation System in Corner Brook: A Case Study of Local Innovation Project Applying Waste Heat from Corner Brook Pulp & Paper Limited for Greenhouse Operations

 

International Marketing

Funded by: ACOA, IET, and CBPPL.

Like many Canadian producers in the pulp and paper industry, CBPPL derives a significant portion of its revenue through the sale of products in international markets. Recent consumer trends and emerging challenges with international trade significantly affect CBPPL’s ability to compete in these markets. With this in mind, this project focuses on the following objectives:

Identify and assess new international markets and buyers for CBPPL’s current products.

Explore and assess the market potential for book paper in both current and international markets, as identified in the first objective.

Conduct primary business analysis for optimizing logistical processes in transporting the paper products to new international markets.

Overall, this project aims to provide an actionable road map for CBPPL in pursuing sales in international markets. This will help find solutions to increasing challenges.

 

Principal Investigator:

Dr. William Newell (Assistant Professor of Business, Grenfell Campus)

 

Interns:

Tong Liu (Bachelor of Business Administration program, Grenfell Campus)

Supervisor: Dr. William Newell

Research title: A market analysis of black pellets and activated carbon: The Asian market

Anees Mallick (Bachelor of Business Administration program, Grenfell Campus)

Supervisor: Dr. William Newell

Research title: A market analysis of black pellets and activated carbon: The European market

 

Strengthening Process Efficiencies in a Changing Industry

Funded by: Mitacs, and CBPPL.

This study aims to improve process efficiencies while supporting the development of products that best respond to market trends in the context of a post-COVID-19 globalized market. From a process engineering perspective, the proposed activities seek to improve the competitiveness of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited (CBPPL) through waste management to both reduce the load on water treatment systems and obtain value-added products from wastewaters, and investigate recovery of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose recovery from mill residues for further product development in biomaterials. From a market and business research perspective, this study’s aims are twofold. The first is in response to the unknown effects that the introduction of new products from engineering work would have on CBPPL's suppliers and other businesses in the forestry industry in Newfoundland (NL forestry network). This study seeks to understand how the businesses in the NL forestry network act and interact, given the current changes in the industry and the development of new and innovative products. This portion of the study aims to improve our understanding of how this network experiences the tensions related to the need for change and the tendency for stagnation, and how the network can cope with change with the introduction of new products. The study offers possibilities for more environmentally sustainable processing, potential reduction of current expenses, and the potential creation of new revenue streams to increase competitiveness for CBPPL while strengthening university-industry collaborations between Memorial University, CBPPL and industry.  This collaboration further develops subject matter expertise in Corner Brook and Newfoundland and offers students valuable experience with applied research and industry trends. 

 

Principal Investigators:

Dr. William Newell (Assistant Professor of Business, School of Arts and Social Science, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Kelly Anne Hawboldt (Professor, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland)

 

Interns:

Davoud Ghahremanlou (PDF, Faculty of Business Administration, Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Supervisor: Dr. William Newell

 

Rene Silva (PDF, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Anne Hawboldt

 

David Hopkins (student of M.Eng. Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, Memorial University of Newfoundland)

Supervisor: Dr. Kelly Anne Hawboldt

 

Thesis title: Examining the effects of process variables during paper making on sheet caliper-An analysis of baseline statistics compared to Neural Networks.

 

Study of Corner Brook Pulp and Paper Limited (CBPPL) by-products and potential uses for food production

Funded by: The Agricultural Clean Technologies Program (ACT), Mitacs, ACOA, IET, and CBPPL.

Considering the increasingly high cost of liming materials, fertilizers and a preferred economic disposal method of wood ash and sludge generated by the CBPPL, as well as the multifaceted benefits of biochar, the proposed study has been designed to: 1) assess the temporal bioavailability of nutrients, heavy metals, and active microbial community structure in wood ash and sludge, 2) optimize the application rates of wood ash, sludge alone and in combination with biochar on the growth and yield of agronomist and horticultural crops, 3) investigate the effects of wood ash and sludge alone and in combination with biochar on solid active microbial community structure, soil health, and soil fertility in agronomic and vegetable crops, 4) investigate the effects of wood ash and sludge alone and in combination with biochar on safety and quality indices, or phytonutrients content of agronomic crops and vegetables, and 5) develop and test a greenhouse growth medium (bulk density, porosity, WHC, available water, and aggregate stability) based on wood ash and sludge in combination with biochar. The project also aims to determine the feasibility and effectiveness of composting paper pulp sludge with woody material to create a soil amendment for remediating hydrocarbon contaminated soil. More specifically, it intends to determine the nutrient and contaminant content of paper mill sludge and the effectiveness of sludge/compost to remediate hydrocarbon contaminated soil and test the effectiveness of sludge in co-composting woody material.

 

Principal Investigators:

Dr. Mumtaz Cheema (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Mano Krishnipillai (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

 

Co-Investigators:

Dr. Adrian Unc (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Lakshman Galagedara (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Raymond Thomas (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Doreen Churchill (Natural Resources Canada – Canadian Forest Service; Grenfell Campus)

 

Interns:

Yeukai Katanda (PDF, School of Science and the Environment, Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, Grenfell Campus)

Bilal Javed (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus).

Supervisor: Dr. Mumtaz Cheema.

 

Thesis title: Wood Ash and Paper Mill Sludge: Potential Liming and Nutrient Sources for Newfoundland Podzolic Soils

 

Groenen, Allison M. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Supervisors: Dr. Mano Krishnipillai, Dr. Doreen Churchill

 

Thesis title: Determining the potential of paper mill biosolids to produce a compost using Eisenia fetida and fungal inoculum, and its ability to remediate petroleum hydrocarbons from soil.

 

Medaiyese, Ayodeji O. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Supervisor: Dr. Adrian Unc

 

Thesis title: Utility of Wood Ash, Paper Sludge and Biochar Amendments for the Mitigation of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Acidic Boreal Soils

 

Wickremasinghe, Thilini K. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Supervisor: Dr. Raymond Thomas

 

Thesis title: A Quality and Safety Analysis of Natural Media Amendments on Kale and Annual Ryegrass Grown Under a Controlled Environment

 

Farhain, Muhammad M. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Supervisor: Dr. Lakshman Galagedara

 

Thesis title: Characterizing the Physicochemical Properties of Soil-Based Potting Media and Measurement of Leaching Potential of NL Podzolic Soil Amended with Paper Mill Wastes and Biochar

 

Rathnayake Mudiyanselage, Rathnayake J. (M.Sc. Candidate, Boreal Ecosystem and Agricultural Sciences program, Grenfell Campus, Memorial University)

Supervisor: Dr. Mano Krishnipillai

 

Thesis title: Evaluation of Forestry and Aquaculture Industry Waste Product Combinations to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emission during Composting

 

Low-Input Agriculture

Funding for this project was provided by the Agricultural Clean Technology Program which brings together support from NL’s Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, and the Federal government.

Attaining food security in Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) is a real and complex challenge. Long and severe winter conditions, short and cool growing seasons, and acidic and shallow soils are some of the main reasons behind this complexity. These factors may restrict growth, development, and overall yield of crops, leaving the province in a precarious situation of reliance for both food and inputs for local food production. Because of this, agricultural expansion is a priority for the government of NL, and this has been highlighted as a component in the provincial action plan for economic development and sustainability. The provincial government is aiming to reach a 20% local food production from the current 10% by 2022, which requires integration of resources and management practices to enhance soil quality and health.  Increasing soil quality and subsequent fertility, along with the government’s renewed efforts in food production will be essential in reaching food self-sufficiency targets with minimum environmental impacts. However, this strong commitment to increase local food production to 20% by 2022, will require changes to management practices and potentially higher inputs to increase yields, which may lead to greater greenhouse gas emission (GHGE) from the agriculture sector.

There is a need to explore sustainable and innovative strategies to enhance soil physiochemical and biological properties, and soil organic carbon (SOC) to enhance food production in NL while taking advantage of available natural resources. Regional value chains in other sectors such as forestry and aquaculture are generating considerable amounts of by-products that hold potential as soil amendments which may be utilized to improve soil quality. This offers an opportunity to enhance linkages between agriculture and other resource sectors, while significantly reducing waste in landfills and GHG emissions both within and in complementary sectors, all awhile potentially increasing crop productivity.

Within this context, Memorial University, Grenfell Campus in collaboration with Corner Brook Pulp and Paper, and NL’s Department of Fisheries, Forestry and Agriculture, with financial support from the Federal - Provincial cost shared Agricultural Clean Technologies Program (ACT), Mitacs, and NL’s Department of Industry, Energy and Technology, has been carrying out a research project to explore the potential of utilizing various by-products from the forestry and aquaculture sectors in the agriculture sector and using nitrogen (N) fertilizer stabilizers (urease and nitrification inhibitors) under cool climate conditions. The project aims to aid in the adoption of beneficial management practices to intensify production while improving land, water and nutrient. Specifically, the following objectives have guided the research:

Determine the effects of different crop management systems on soil health, livestock feed yield and quality, and reduction of nitrogen losses (GHG emissions, ammonia volatilization and N leaching) in agricultural production.

Investigate the effects of novel natural resource by-product soil amendments on soil health, crop yield and quality, and reducing intensity of GHG emissions in agricultural, forestry, and other resource-based industries.

To achieve these objectives, the project executes an ambitious agenda of applied research, demonstration, commercialization, and adoption activities in western Newfoundland. These activities correspond to the objectives outlined above, and span across the innovation continuum.

The outcomes of these activities will contribute toward a robust, more sustainable agricultural sector with improved food self-sufficiency in NL. Additionally, the research findings will offer valuable knowledge to policy makers, researchers and industry stakeholders in other cool climate, and boreal regions across Canada and worldwide.

 

Principal Investigator:

Dr. Mumtaz Cheema (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

 

Co-Investigators:

Dr. Lakshman Galagedara (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Raymond Thomas (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Adrian Unc (Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)

Dr. Mano Krishnapillai (Environmental Science/Boreal Ecosystem Research Initiative, School of Science and the Environment, Grenfell Campus)