RBI advances research and industry collaboration across bioproducts, pulp and paper, biomaterials, chemical analysis, corrosion science, and process innovation. RBI’s core labs support companies developing sustainable materials and manufacturing solutions.

Institute for Renewable Bioproducts

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Chemical Analysis Testing

  • Machine deposit, evaporator scale and product contaminant chemical characterization
  • Wood, pulping liquor, pulp and paper chemical analysis
  • Product defect analysis
  • Methods development

Corrosion Testing

Environmentally induced degradation of metallic materials including corrosion, stress corrosion cracking, and high temperature oxidation.

Paper, Board, and Box Testing

  • Precision paper grinding or sheet splitting to produce specific thickness sections
  • Score cracking of linerboards
  • Needle abrasion testing to predict relative slitter and knife blade wear
  • Nondestructive in-plane and out-of-plane ultrasonic testing
  • Measurement of curl or cockle
  • Corrugated board samples for evaluating adhesive efficacy and application
  • Measurement of out of plane shear rigidity
  • Box compression tester up to 20,000 lbs
  • Evaluation of lifetime performance of corrugated boards
  • Programmable walk-in humidity chamber for corrugated box lifetime studies

Pulp Analysis Testing

  • Testing and analysis of raw materials and pulps
  • Chip analysis and pulp quality tests
  • Surface modification of paper sheets
  • Simulations of most pulping and bleaching processes
  • Preparation of raw materials for pulping studies
  • Batch pulping systems
  • Conventional bleaching technologies as well as several new ones
  • Pulp processing

Recovery Testing

  • Black Liquor Evaporator Scaling Facility
  • Portable Fouling Test Unit
  • Viscometers
  • Laminar Entrained Flow Reactor
  • Model Char Bed Reactor
  • Single Drop Reactor
  • Understanding Crystallization during Evaporation