Effects of cationic starch in the presence of cellulose nanofibrils on structural, optical and strength properties of paper from soda bagasse pulp

Milad Tajik; Hossein Jalali Torshizi; Hossein Resalati; Yahya Hamzeh

doi:10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.04.026

Effects of cationic starch in the presence of cellulose nanofibrils on structural, optical and strength properties of paper from soda bagasse pulp

Carbohydr Polym. 2018 Aug 15:194:1-8. doi: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.04.026. Epub 2018 Apr 7.

Authors

Milad Tajik¹, Hossein Jalali Torshizi², Hossein Resalati³, Yahya Hamzeh⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Cellulose and Paper Technology, New Technologies Engineering Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
² Department of Cellulose and Paper Technology, New Technologies Engineering Faculty, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: H_Jalali@sbu.ac.ir.
³ Department of Wood and Paper Science & Technology, Faculty of Natural Resources, Sari University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Sari, Iran.
⁴ Department of Wood and Paper Science & Technology, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.

PMID: 29801816
DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2018.04.026

Abstract

The effects of widely available bio-based additives, cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) (0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2 wt%, based on dry weight of pulp) in combination with high degree of substitution cationic starch (CS) (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 wt%, based on dry weight of pulp) on the structural, optical and strength properties of handsheet paper made from soda bagasse pulp were studied. Obtained results indicated that both the type and loading level of the additives had meaningful effects (99% confidence level) on the evaluated properties. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images showed the retention and reinforcing effects of the additives on the paper network. Tensile and burst strengths increased continuously with increasing levels of the bio-additives up to 33% and 23% (0.6 CS/2% CNFs), respectively. However, the cellulose nanofibrils improved retention and drainage of the pulp at the lower levels (0.5 CS/0.1 CNFs), presumably due to complex interaction between CNFs and CS. Moreover, for the handsheet papers made of semi-bleached soda bagasse pulp, higher addition of CNFs improved the brightness of paper.

Keywords: Bagasse pulp; Cationic starch (CS); Cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs); Paper properties.