Peter W. Hart

Peter W. Hart is Director, Fiber Science and Innovation, WestRock specializing in pulping, bleaching, evaporators, chemical recovery, recausticization, refining, and wet end chemistry. Peter has been a member of TAPPI since 1982. He is a TAPPI Fellow and serves on the Pulp Manufacture Division Council, the Alkaline Pulping and Bleaching Committee, and the TAPPI Journal Editorial Board.

Peter is co-editor of “Brownstock Washing Fundamentals and Practices,” and authored or co-authored 11 of the 23 chapters of this 751 page book, published in the fall of 2017 by TAPPI Press. This book provides entry level engineers with a practical understanding of brownstock washer operations along with a solid fundamental understanding of the basic principles of washing. He has also co-edited “The Bleaching of Pulp: 5th Edition”, and authored or co-authored 6 of the 20 chapter of this 829 page book. Peter is currently working as a co-editor and contributor for a new Lime Kiln and Recausticizing textbook planned to be published in late 2019. He has served as a co-editor for 5 AIChE Symposium textbooks and Peter has published more than 90 peer reviewed publications, several of which have appeared in TAPPI Journal over the last 20+ years.

1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?

I wrote my first technical article as part of my undergraduate thesis. My major professor at the time instilled within me a need to share fundamental work with others to help advance the existing state of knowledge. Your small piece of work may lead others towards even greater discoveries and understandings. It is important to publish and share your results. Ever since then, I have tried to publish any and all of my work which was not considered to offer a commercial advantage to or be considered to be confidential to my employer. Work around personnel safety or general education is also fair game for publishing.

2. What is your work schedule like when you’re writing for a TAPPI publication?

My work schedule is always full and hectic. Writing publications is not a top priority for my employer. Most of my TAPPI publications have been written during nights and weekends especially while staying in hotels at various mill towns. I am better off spending several nights writing in the hotel instead of sampling the local night life in various small towns around the country. Although it may not be as much fun, writing is far more productive.

3. What advice do you have for anyone considering writing for a TAPPI publication?

Try to write clearly and concisely. Do not try to write to impress; write to be easily understood.