Search

Natural fibers have been extensively studied as a reinforcement filler in obtaining composites, replacing partially synthetic fibers. The vast majority of these materials originate from agro-industrial waste with a high content of lignin and cellulose making it a very interesting material with low cost and good mechanical properties. The purpose of the study was to obtain a composite based on alkyl ketene dimer resin, for the manufacture of sustainable packaging, made of paper by adding a 10% (w/w) con-tent of green coconut fiber and sugarcane bagasse fiber, and evaluated the impact of the filler on the mechanical behavior of the systems. The studied material was characterized from mechanical tests, such as Ring Crush Test (RCT) and Concora Medium Test (CMT) evaluating the maximum resistance supported by centimeter in the pre-pared composites, by the specimens. Through the RCT tests, with 10% w/w fibers, it was possible to verify that the fiber from sugarcane bagasse reached an increase of about 1% in the reinforcement effect compared to pure paper, and a difference of up to 2% in strength mechanics in relation to coir fiber, and CMT tests shows the reinforcement effect of the presence of sugarcane bagasse fiber, with an increase of about 3% compared to pure paper, and with a mechanical strength higher by 1% compared to coconut fiber. Therefore, the study was funneled with sugar cane fiber, varying the content by 20 and 30 % (w/w), evaluating the impact on the dispersion of this filler in the polymeric matrix and, consequently, the mechanical response of the composite with these compositions. The conclusion of the study was that the system prepared with 20% (w/w) was the one that achieved the greatest optimization of the mechanical properties, evaluated by the tests. This type of material can be applied to obtain cardboard boxes with resistance to high loads, due to the achievement of good mechanical properties.

Currently, paper pulping production from woody materials has many disadvantages due to its high energy, chemical, water consumption, methane emissions, and deforestation. However, the use of non-woody materials solves these problems. This study focused on the use of non-virgin raw material (Enset leaf fiber) in pulp and paper making. Enset leaf residues are the primary solid residues after the steam plant is used for “Kocho” processing. This leaf fiber has a lignocellulose component, converting this residue into Pulp and paper is crucial in terms of economic and waste management via the Kraft process. It has a higher fiber quality, lower energy consumption, and high recoverability of the chemical raw materials used in the process. The chemical composition of the Enset leaf fiber was analyzed using the Technical Association of Pulp and Paper. It has an excellent fiber length (2.12±1.46mm), fiber diameter (26.55±15.6µm) andacceptable rigidity coefficient (1.05±0.07), and flexibility coefficient (125.23±0.04). The maximum pulp yield was obtained at a temperature of 120°C, NaOH concentration of 8%, and 40 min cooking time off, which was 69.92% w/w. The functional groups of the Enset leaf fiber and morphological characteristics of the fiber were investigated.

The agriculture waste material can give benefit to many production industries. The studied crop is corn (Zea Mays)stalk. The objective of this work was to analysis the chemical composition; to study chemical pulping and papermaking properties of corn stalk and; to investigate the fiber morphology of properties of those crops. Firstly, the chemical composition of corn stalk were determined and compared with other non-woods. After that, chemical corn stalk was conducted in this analysis followed the physical and mechanical properties. The result showed that, corn stalk have cellulose (39.0%) and lignin content is the lowest (7.3%) content rather than other composition. In chemical pulping, reached high pulp yields had been produced and the strength properties: tear index, tensile index, burst and fold verified that they were of an acceptable quality for papermaking. This crop morphology was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopic (SEM), which showed a condensed composition of fiber structure. This study can developed a friendly product and promote the green technology, suitable to be used as an alternative pulp in paper making industry.Keywords:Fiber, Corn stalk, Composition, Green technology, Pulp and paper making.

The aim of this study was to study the morphology and structural characteristic of NCC hydrolyzed from filter paper. The NCCs were extracted by acid hydrolysis at 50°C for 1 hour, using 55% conc. H2SO4 under vigorous mechanical stirring, centrifugation at 12000 rpm in distillate water and followed by homogenizing at 7000 rpm. The morphology and surface profiles of the NCC suspension was characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The crystalline structure of the NCC was evaluated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD) technique. As a result, hydrolysed NCC was found to have a rod liked shape with diameter in the range of 100-300nm length and 10-50nm width, with the aspect ratio value of 10.3 nm. According to XRD investigations, the semi-crystalline cellulose was observed with the presence of an amorphous broad hump and crystalline peaks at 2θ of 15o and 22.7o, respectively. The crystalinity index of the raw filter paper was calculated as 86.7 % and increased to 94.4 % as it was extracted to NCC. Crystallite size of raw filter paper and NCC was calculated as 20.6 nm and 11.4 nm, respectively

In this paper, Kevlar or Polysulfonamide (PSA) pulp were used to replace plant fiber pulp partially or completely and by adjusting their ratios and a variety of Kevlar or PSA pulp reinforced activated carbon fiber paper (ACFP) were prepared via wet-laid paper making technology. The influences of addition of Kevlar or PSA pulp on the permeability, mechanical property, filtration performance, adsorption property of ACFP were discussed by maintaining the addition content of activated carbon fiber unchanged. Results showed that with the addition content of Kevlar or PSA pulp increased, the permeability and filtration performance of ACFP decreased obviously, while the bursting strength and the static CCl4 adsorption performances were firstly increased and then decreased. Generally, the permeability and filtration performance of Kevlar pulp reinforced ACFP were slightly worse than that of PSA pulp reinforced ACFP, while the bursting strength as well as the static CCl4 adsorption properties of Kevlar pulp reinforced ACFP were better than that of PSA pulp reinforced ACFP.

This project investigated the use of facile pulping methods to produce pulp from mixed bio-plantation waste fibres using sodium hydroxide, ethanol and garbage enzyme. Papers were successfully made from mixture of corn husk fibres with other bio-based green fibres such as banana stems and pineapple leaves. Soda pulping was found to be efficient in converting the cellulosic bio-fibres to the pulps used for paper making. The papers produced have low tensile strength, high water absorption, high bio-decomposition and degradation rate, as compared to commercial papers. SEM observation revealed that paper made from mixed bio-fibres have lightly cross-linked structures compared to heavily cross-linked or compact network structures found in commercial papers. The paper can be used in applications that require high water absorbency. The paper making process is more environmental friendly as it reduces the usage of wood fibres and hence reduces the environmental problem caused by deforestation.

Environmental awareness and depletion of the wood resources are among vital factors that motivate various researchers to explore the potential of agro-based crops as an alternative source of fiber material in paper industries such as writing, printing, wrapping, and packaging. Fibers from agro-based crops are available in abundance, low cost, and most importantly its biodegradability features, which sometimes referred as “ecofriendly” materials. This paper reports the biopulping of pineapple leaf fiber (PALF) by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora towards the properties of its fiber and paper forms. The individual fibers were characterized having good tensile properties at 0.3% of fungus treatment and favourable structural properties as characterized by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) spectroscopy. It was also shown that the PALF paper achieved desirable tear index value and uniform morphological observations compared to the conventional chemical pulping method. This new approach of pulping PALF finds applications in paper and packaging products which requires biofriendly characteristic and cost effective.

Homemade water in water cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) emulsion was applied in cigarette paper pulp as dry strengthening agent with other strengthening agent. Good collaborative effect was achieved when CPAM was used in bleached wheat straw pulp with strengthening agent E and with cationic additives L as paper pulp strengthening agent. It was also showed that distinct strengthening effect was obtained when CPAM emulsion was applied in mixture of bleached needle kraft pulp (NBKP) and wheat straw pulp, breaking length and tearing index of cigarette handsheet made of mix pulp was respectively increased by 22.2% and17.0% when the dosage of CPAM was 0.8% of dry fiber. Through analysis of cigarette handsheet section scanning electron microscopy (SEM) photos, strengthening mechanism of CPAM emulsion to cigarette paper pulp was preliminary studied.

Fe-pillared bentonite was made into a paper-like composite by a papermaking technique using pulp fiber and activated carbon fiber. Orange II was used as a model compound to investigate the photocatalytic performance of the paper. SEM analysis showed that the catalytic paper had a porous structure originating from the layered fiber network, with Fe-pillared bentonite mostly embedded in the grooves along the axial direction of the carbon fibers. The optimum preparation conditions were: activated carbon fiber:Fe-pillared bentonite=1:2, activated carbon fiber:pulp fiber=5:3, the charges of Na2SiO3 and PAE were 2.5% based on the Fe-pillared bentonite and 0.4% based on the oven-dry fibers, respectively. The degradation ratio reached 85.2% at 180 min and after that little increase was observed. The catalyst could be repeatedly use and keep a high stability during the first 4 cycling use.

Paper acidification has become a serious problem in the world and deacidification is an effective way to extend the life of the paper documents. This essay introduced the acidification of the paper documents and the regular methods of deacidification at present. It surveyed the deacidification technologies in Europe and America countries and the progress of decacidification research programs in China, and then proposed the opinions on R&D and promotion of paper document acidification technology in China.

Super absorbent polymer (SAP) and fluff pulp were used as absorbing materials, and the different SAP mass ratio and fluff pulp were applied to paper diaper absorption core layer. Then, the influence of different SAP/fluff pulp in composite core layer on the paper diapers normal saline absorption rate and topsheet run-off were studied. Results showed that SAP has a significant effect on normal saline absorbency respect to fluff pulp. When the normal saline volume increased, the paper diapers absorption rate about normal saline decreased, while the topsheet run-off increased. When the SAP mass ratio to fluff pulp was 0.5:0.5, the liquid absorbency rate was 35.23 g/g, the paper diaper average absorption rate was 3.96 mL/s, and the biggest topsheet run-off was 13.25 g.

The aim of this research was to produce three-layer Medium Density Particleboard (MDP), with the addition of impregnated paper, in the inner layer, in proportions of 1; 5 and 20%. In this study, MDP was composed with particles of small size in outer layers, and larger particles in internal layer. After panel manufacturing, physical and mechanical tests based on Brazilian Code ABNT NBR 14.810 were carried out to determine moisture content; density; thickness swelling; water absorption; modulus of rupture (MOR) and modulus of elasticity (MOE) in static bending and internal adhesion. Test results were compared to commercial panels, produced with 100% Eucalyptus, considering the requirements specified by Brazilian Code. Properties presented values close to normative specifications, indicating positively the possibility of production of MDP using addition of waste paper impregnated.

Rabbit is a traditional textile material and has protein content about 93%. Rabbit hair wastes are abundantly present in textile processing due to its poor spinnability. In order to recycle the waste rabbit fiber effectively, the rabbit protein was researched. The papermaking method was performed for the first time and their properties of the hybrid paper were discussed in this study. Different contents of rabbit protein were successfully prepared and mixed with pulp fibers to remade papers. Finally, performances of these papers were characterized. The results showed that the surface of the rabbit protein paper was flat, white and writing fluently. The ink absorbance of novel paper increased. Moreover mechanical properties of the rabbit protein paper were stronger than the untreated paper. The folding endurance decreased firstly and then increased.

The study aimed to describe the alkaline treatment advantage to remove ash component from natural rice straws. Most of the ash component in the rice straw is silica. High ash content is particularly harmful to cutting tools and to chemical to recovery systems in the pulp paper industry. In this study, the silica content has been removed simply through by immersion process in the 5% sodium hydroxide solution to obtain de-silicated rice straw. The study revealed the effectiveness of this alkaline process and the compatibility in commercial practice. The rice straw pulping is considered competitively to complement the global demand of raw material in paper production. Therefore, the treated rice straw plays an important role in providing raw material in the form of wood and rice straw blend feedstock for pulp and paper industry.

Graphene paper (GP) with layered structure and highly conductive network is fabricated by a facile technique of vacuum filtration and studied as a single-component and binder-free anode of lithium ion batteries (LIBs). The process of fabrication of GP without any binder and high-temperature treatment, in the meantime, great improvement in both the capacity and cycling performance of the GP electrodes have compared with other kinds of traditional graphite electrode materials. Given the simplifying anode fabrication, low manufacturing costs and many electrochemical properties of the GP anode, it is regarded as an excellent anode material of LIB with great promise for its both excellent cycling performance and electrochemical properties. The specific capacity can reach to over 200 mAhg-1after 60 charge-discharge cycles under the current rate of 50 mAg-1.

Pulp from the oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) was extracted via Alkaline Peroxide Pulping (APP). The pulping process was conducted through three main steps; dewaxing of EFB, impregnation of alkaline peroxide (AP) into EFB and refining of biomass to finally produce the pulp. The varying peroxide levels and number of impregnation stages were found to affect the refining energy consumption and the properties of the resultant pulp and paper. Diagnosis by electron microscopic imaging revealed a strong correlation between paper properties development and paper surface morphologies. By multiplying the stages of the low alkaline peroxide level (2:2.5% AP) impregnation, refining energy could be reduced by 30% while improving brightness and paper mechanical properties. Higher alkaline peroxide level (4:5% AP) could reduce the refining energy by 50% while still improving brightness. Beyond these AP levels (8:10% AP), refining energy could be reduced by 67% by increasing the number of impregnation stages, with positive effects on brightness and paper mechanical properties. The findings suggest that increasing the AP impregnation stages had exposed more active sites to react with AP. The enhanced AP accessibility to EFB structures facilitated mechanical fibrillation of EFB vascular bundles through the refining process. The proper synergy between AP and the adopted mechanical refining was the factor that triggered the liberation of nanocells from EFB biomass and this had ultimately improved paper properties.

The combustion of paper mill sludge and bituminous coal in air was analyzed using a thermogravimetric instrument. TG and DTG curves for the blends lies between that of the individual fuels, and the main combustion characteristics of blends depended on individual fuels and followed the weighted average. As the blending ratio of paper mill sludge was increased from 10% to 90%, the ignite temperature (Ti) decreased from 529.6°C. to 275.6°C., and residual weight increased from 19.28% to 47.39%. The TG profiles of sample were almost the same at different heating rates, however there was a big difference between the DTG profiles. The maximum weight loss rate of sample increased obviously with the increment of heating rate. This work contributes to the comprehensive understanding of paper mill sludge and bituminous coal combustion and development of co-combustion technology.

Because of the public environmental awareness growing and Fibrous raw material shortage, waste paper recycling has received widespread attention, increased year by year. Waste paper fiber through the whole process of pulping and papermaking, different production processes and the use of environment, waste paper fiber can occur in many different changes compared with the original fiber, accordingly the paper properties change.In this study, a high-quality aspen high-yield pulp (HYP) was used to improve the Waste paper pulp properties at the laboratory scale.The results indicate that adding 25% aspen HYP into unrefined or refined Waste paper fiber can minimize many of the drawbacks associated with Waste paper fiber: improving its drainage, bulk, and opacity. And addition of a small amount (about 1%) of cationicstarch can also significantly increase the tensile index of OCC.