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This study analyzed the effect that pulp fibers have on the surface softness component of hygiene paper. The surface softness component has more of an influence on the evaluation of subjective softness results than the bulk softness component. Using the surface softness measurement technique, this study aimed to evaluate the effect that fibers have on the softness of hygiene paper substrate via objective numerical values to measure the surface softness component of hand sheets composed of various pulp species. The results indicate that coarseness effects had the largest effect on softness among the various fiber characteristics, such as average fiber length, width and coarseness. As fiber coarseness increased, a rough surface formed, which resulted in an increase in the mean deviation from the average friction (MMD). Nonwood fibers had long fiber length and low coarseness, which enables the production of hygiene paper with high strength and softness. This study hopefully could lead to the development of various process technologies that may improve the softness of hygiene paper products.

Cellulose-based handmade paper records a substantial amount of historical data and promotes human civilization. Due to the complexity of its structure and external factors, the deterioration of paper in the restoration of ancient books cannot be completely stopped. Nonetheless, the lack of microstructure analysis of handmade paper limits the understanding of its aging mechanism and storage life-span. Herein, CP/MAS 13C NMR method was used to estimate the cellulose types, crystallinity, average lateral fibril dimension (LFD), and the average lateral fibril aggregate dimension (LFAD), relying on integrated spectral fitting from C1, C4, and C6 regions, respectively. Consequently, cellulose I β crystals were predominant in all handmade paper samples. Based on the results of C4 and C6 regions by peak separation method, bast paper (Kaihua paper and Yingchun paper) demonstrated a higher crystallinity than bamboo paper (Yuanshu paper). Additional analysis of the C4 data revealed that bast papers exhibit larger cellulose microfibrils, and their LFDs and LFADs were greater than bamboo papers. Moreover, external stress of Wiley milling reduced the LFAD from the original 9 elementary fibrils to 4 elementary fibrils with unchanged LFDs.

Publisher Copyright: © 2022 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston 2022. Paper-grade pulp, rich in hemicellulose content, is a cheap source for producing dissolving pulps. The main challenge in the conversion of a cheap paper-grade pulp to a higher-valued dissolving pulp is the selective removal of hemicelluloses, while maintaining the pulp reactivity. This paper presents a comparison of different hemicellulose extraction methods such as cold caustic extraction, IONCELL-P(ulp) and xylanase treatment on converting fully bleached soda bagasse paper-grade pulp to dissolving pulp. IONCELL-P(ulp) treatment, using an optimized1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate/water as the extraction medium, yielded 85% xylan removal, which is comparable to the cold caustic extraction or a combination of xylanase treatment and cold caustic extraction. A complete separation of the two polymers by IONCELL-P(ulp) is not possible due to the overlap of the molecular masses of the cellulose and xylan molecules, an inherent characteristic of sugarcane bagasse pulp. All the investigated methods effectively removed xylan, with differences in the selectivity and the reactivity of the remaining pulp.

The identification of wood species in paper products is highly important for the enforcement of the newly established timber regulations regarding the control of illegal logging. In the context of European Timber Regulation (EUTR), in the present paper a database has been established containing reference samples and anatomical descriptions for the identification of 23 tropical timbers from Southeast Asia in pulp and paper products. The vessel elements and fibers of these mixed tropical hardwoods (MTH) were characterized by light microscopy. The woods in focus were macerated, embedded and compared visually and statistically. The collected microscopic data and images are helpful for the identification of the wood species used for paper production.

Pulp was treated with cellulase, and the chemical, physical, and optical properties of the refined pulps in paper sheets were measured in terms of the degree of polymerization of cellulose, tensile strength, elongation, burst strength, light scattering, and brightness. The sheets were thermally treated for 20 and 60 min at 225°C in the presence of 1% and 75% (v/v) water vapor. The cellulase treatment intensified the fibrillation of fibers and reduced the specific energy consumption during refining. It was demonstrated based on the water retention value that the refining modified the water-bonding ability of the pulp fibers, which was further enhanced in the case of cellulase-treated pulps. However, the enzymatic pretreatment impaired the physical properties, such as the tensile strength, elongation, and burst strength of the high-density paper. These changes further reduced the thermal strength stability of the paper. In addition, considerable brightness loss of the cellulase-treated high-density paper was observed compared to the reference paper, indicating more severe thermal degradation reactions as a consequence of enzyme-assisted refining.

Fibers of aspen chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP), spruce CTMP, bleached kraft pulp (BKP), and kraft pulp were treated by low-temperature plasma (air) aiming at the detection of the relationship between chemical components on the surface and the properties of sheets. The effects of plasma treatment were investigated by X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and atomic force microscopy. The results show that the strength properties of sheets, especially the wet-tensile strength, were significantly improved, while optical properties were scarcely affected. Aspen and spruce CTMPs with abundant lignin and extractives were sensitive to plasma treatment in that the O/C ratio increased and lignin or extractive contents decreased. However, the crystallinity of BKP evidently decreased after plasma treatment owing to carbohydrate enrichment on the surface. Compared to the partial removal of noncarbohydrates through a laccase/mediator system, plasma treatment did not remove them in large amounts but created more carboxyl and hydroxyl groups, which improved the strength properties of paper sheets.

The growth of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) on pulp and paper industry wastes was studied. Specifically, the question was investigated whether solid-state fermentation ofP. ostreatuson paper-mill deinking sludge and primary sludge substrates is appropriate for production of enzymes, relevant to the pulp and paper industry. Following fermentation, extracellular protein was extracted and the specific activities of four enzymes were determined, namely, the cellulase, xylanase, lipase and peroxidase. Furthermore, the effects of the pH of the extraction buffer on these enzyme activities were determined, along with the effects of the incubation time. The data show thatP. ostreatuscan grow on solid wastes from the pulp and paper industry, which could help to minimize the waste volume and to decrease the ecological impact. Furthermore, the solid wastes in focus are good substrates for the production of commercially interesting enzymes.

The supramolecular structure of eucalyptus pulp cellulose was studied by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and water retention value (WRV) after subjecting the pulp to pressures of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 MPa. It was interpreted from the FTIR spectra of the sheets after pressing that the amount of intermolecular hydrogen bonds (HBinter) first increased and then decreased as a function of increasing pressure, while the number of the intramolecular hydrogen bonding (HBintra) exhibited an opposite trend. In the pressed fibers, the number of HBintraO(6)H· · ·O(3′) increased by 16% compared to the un-pressed fibers, while the number of HBinterO(2)H· · ·O(6) and O(3)H· · ·O(5) decreased by 23% at 0.3 MPa. XRD analysis showed that the crystallite size corresponding to the diffraction peaks for (002) lattice planes and the crystallinity of eucalyptus fibers were the lowest at a pressure of 0.3 MPa. Pressing produced an irreversible reduction of fiber pore volume, which was manifested by reduced WRV data.

Silver-clay nanohybrids based on silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with montmorillonit (MMT) and milled MMT, shortly AgMMTnano and AgMMTmilled, have been prepared to improve the performance of antibacterial properties of paper. The results obtained by dynamic light scattering indicated the presence of silver particles in the nanometer range, which have a great accumulation tendency. The results of AAS and ICP-AES tests showed that nanosilver amount in the AgMMTmilled was doubled compared to the AgMMTnano, but according to the EDX results, the amount of nanosilver in paper treated with the former was less than in the latter. FE-SEM images showed that the dimensions of deposited nanosilver on the surface of clay were smaller than in case of AgNPs alone. Papers treated with nanohybrids had better antibacterial properties compared to that prepared by naked nanosilver. It was also found that the antibacterial property of papers treated with AgMMTnano were more stable during three-stage tests compared to those with AgMMTmilled. Nanohybrids with Ag conc. more than 15 ppm, especially hybrids with Ag conc. of 50 ppm, result in a significant improvement in antibacterial properties of paper. It can be concluded that silver-clay nanohybrid with a 25-ppm concentration of nanosilver could be the best and most economic antibacterial component.

Three major types of paper mill sludge, primary sludge (PS), secondary sludge (SS) and de-inking paper sludge (DPS) were characterized and evaluated as adhesive fillers. Plywood panels were made of formulations with phenol formaldehyde (PF) and sludges. Panels with PF/PS and PF/SS formulations had higher dry and wet shear strengths than those made with PF/Cocob® formulation. All wood failure values were comparable. Dry and wet shear strengths of the panels with PF/DPS formulation were comparable to those of the PF/Cocob® panels (with Cocob® as a commercial filler), but the former displayed a much lower wood failure value. Owing to this fact and its high ash content, DPS was not evaluated further as a potential component of adhesive formulations. Compared with SS, PS resulted in higher dry and wet shear strengths and higher wood failure values. However, granular SS was easier to disperse into the resin component than fibrous PS, and the PF/SS formulation was more easily dispensed on aspen veneer sheets than the PF/PS formulation. SS alone displayed adhesive properties with 0.87 MPa of dry shear strength, but PS alone did not exhibit any bond strength. PS and SS were further evaluated for their general thermal behavior and major functional groups using differential scanning calorimetry and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, respectively.

De-esterification and sulfonation reactions, which create new anionic groups in the middle lamella and primary wall layers, are the key chemical reactions in chemithermomechanical pulping. The effects of these reactions on the resulting fibre dimensions, refining energy demand, hand-sheet bulk and strength properties were assessed by laboratory-scale chemical pre-treatments and refining of Norway spruce chips. After pre-treatments with alkaline, sulfite, alkaline sulfite and alkaline peroxide liquors, a Wing defibrator-type batch refiner was used. The refining energy was measured. The degree of alkaline hydrolysis of acetyl and methyl ester groups in galactoglucomannans (GGMs) and pectins, and the degree of lignin sulfonation were determined. Hand-sheets were prepared and their physical properties were tested. The data were subjected to multivariate analysis and the order of significance of the chemical reactions towards pulp and paper properties was estimated. Chemical pre-treatments were found to increase the fibre length and the energy demand considerably. The fibre length and width after refining were strongly influenced by lignin sulfonation and pectin demethylation. GGM deacetylation had little influence on preserving the fibre dimensions in CTMP refining. The bulk, on the other hand, was highly influenced by GGM deacetylation. Peroxide reactions in alkaline peroxide treatments had no effect on the pulp and paper properties.

Xylans were selectively removed from paper-grade pulps by nitren extraction to produce dissolving pulps. Extraction parameters were optimised for a birch kraft pulp regarding time, temperature, liquor/pulp ratio, and total nitren charge. Furthermore, the applicability of the method was investigated for two other kraft pulps obtained from eucalyptus and mixed softwood, and for one beech sulfite pulp. Extracted pulps were characterised regarding their carbohydrate content and Cuen viscosity. The nitren charge was a decisive factor for xylan removal and pulp purity. The combination of a high nitren concentration and low liquor/pulp ratio was most effective for xylan removal. However, a high liquor/pulp ratio with a lower nitren concentration proved to be more selective and minimised cellulose degradation as well. Glucomannans were almost insoluble under the extraction conditions investigated. Therefore, softwood pulps were not suitable for the upgrading of chemical pulps to dissolving pulps by nitren extraction. On the other hand, hardwood pulps obtained by kraft and sulfite processes contained 96–97% cellulose after nitren extraction.

Wood “cell-wall deformation” is a comprehensive term describing any physical dislocation in the wall caused by mechanical forces. The development and effect of fibre dislocations on wood fibres, and their ultimate impact on the mechanical properties of paper remain rather obscure and controversial. Dislocations are difficult to quantify through a lack of defined measurable features, and research is aggravated by the inherent difficulties of applying statistical tools. A direct approach for studying the effect of dislocations on the mechanical properties of paper was used in this study. Dislocations in fibre cell walls were introduced by exposing whole wood fibres in mature and juvenile wood samples to compression stress. Sapwood samples of Norway spruce (Picea abies Karst.) were loaded by compression to their ultimate strength using an Alwetron-50 universal testing machine. Failure of samples conditioned to a moisture content of 9–15% always occurred in an oblique (relative to the fibre axis) plane and all fibres in the plane were deformed. When samples were loaded in a wet condition (i.e., moisture content close to the fibre saturation point), failure occurred at one end of the samples, resulting in highly disorganised fibres. Pulp and paper from the compressed fibres were produced and the mechanical properties of the paper were tested. Results of the mechanical tests were compared statistically to results derived from paper made from matched non-compressed control samples. Morphological features of fibres and dislocations after compression failure were characterised using microscopy (scanning electron microscopy, polarised light) on the whole wood and macerated fibres before and after paper testing. The above experimental approach showed that paper made from control samples had significantly better mechanical properties than paper made from samples loaded by compression under dry or wet conditions. At a tensile index of 90 N m/g, the tear index was measured as 23.6 mN m2/g for controls, while the corresponding values for compressed wet wood samples was 12.6 and 16.3 mN m2/g for samples at 9–15% moisture content. Paper made from juvenile wood also showed lower mechanical properties compared to controls. The results prove the negative effect of dislocations on the mechanical properties of paper in the worst case scenario and are of practical importance.

Dielectric-barrier discharge treatment was used to modify fully bleached softwood kraft and unbleached softwood thermomechanical pulp handsheets. The effect of dielectric-barrier discharge treatment on the physical strength properties and dimensional stability of handsheets were analyzed. Increased dielectric-barrier discharge treatment power resulted in significant increases in the wet tensile index of handsheets. Increases in the surface acid content of pulp fibers do not appear to contribute to changes in paper properties, nor do changes to relative bonded area within handsheets. Enhanced wet strength via dielectric-barrier discharge treatment corresponds to increased dimensional stability. This appears to be due to fiber cross-linking in the case of bleached kraft pulp, since the wet-strain decreases as wet tensile and wet Young's modulus increase. In the case of unbleached thermomechanical pulp, the wet-strain shows no decrease, yet the wet Young's modulus increases as the wet tensile index increases.

Summary The pulp and paper industry in China has been growing rapidly as the nation's population and economy have grown. As a result, there has been a huge demand for pulp and paper raw materials. China has a long tradition for using non-wood raw materials for pulp and paper due to its limited forest resources and rich supply of agricultural residues and non-wood plants. Agricultural residues, such as rice straw and wheat straw, are traditional raw materials for China's paper industry. Massive plantation of bamboo provides an increasingly important source of raw material for pulp and paper. Problems with non-wood fiber include collection and transportation, storage and handling, washing, bleaching, papermaking, and chemical recovery. Small mills, primary users of non-wood fiber, are typically deficient in pollution control and subject to government closure. This paper reviews non-wood fibers commonly used in China's pulp and paper industry. By increased knowledge of use of non-wood fibers, wood suppliers can plan for access to the growing Chinese market.

The effect of coatings on paper sheets has been studied. For this purpose gels were prepared from unextracted and extracted bark. The gels represented dispersions of micro- and nanoparticles. The coatings were also prepared from mixtures of gels with chitosan solutions in 1% acetic acid and aqueous Na-carboxymethylcellulose (Na-CMC) solutions. The properties – Gurley air resistance, water vapour sorption, and mechanical properties of paper sheets – were tested. For obtaining the gels, the bark was destructed by a thermocatalytic method and then dispersed in water in a ball mill. The gels contained mainly nanoparticles with an average size of about 300 nm. Paper sheets produced by the Ligatne Paper Mill (Latvia) were coated on both sides. Gurley air resistance increases with increasing thickness of the coatings and with increasing gel concentration. At a gel concentration of 10% and a coating thickness of 35 μm, air resistance increases by 57% (gel from unextracted bark) and 72% (gel from extracted bark) compared to uncoated paper sheets. The coatings from bark gels in combination with Na-CMC and chitosan solutions increase further the air resistance. The coatings at gel concentrations up to 6% elevate the burst strength and tensile strength in a dry state. The coatings from mixtures of bark gel and chitosan and Na-CMC heighten further the mechanical properties and elevate the water vapour sorption of paper sheets.

Sludge of pulp and paper mills have natural adhesive properties. The primary sludge (PS, contains fibers) and secondary sludge (SS, contains proteins) could also be suitable for manufacturing medium-density fiberboard (MDF). Protein in SS can react with formaldehyde (HCHO), and as an additive in urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins it can reduce formaldehyde emission. Thus, SS was investigated in the present study. PS and SS were collected from two mills and characterized in terms of chemical composition, fiber length distribution, pH, and buffering capacity. MDF samples were processed according to an experimental design, in which UF resin content was reduced from 12% to 8% and replaced by SS in the range of 5%–15%. Gel time measurement showed high SS reactivity with UF resin. The SS reduced HCHO emissions by up to 68% compared to control panels, without compromising internal bond strength. The bonding effect of SS was lower than expected due to the high pH, thus the buffering capacity reduced UF performance. Moreover, sludge reduced bending performance. Dimensional stability was the greatest disadvantage of sludge panels.

Refining during mechanical pulping causes delamination and internal fibrillation (D/IF) of the fibre wall and changes the surface ultrastructure. Fundamental knowledge about these phenomena at the fibre cell wall level helps our understanding of the development of pulp and paper properties, which in turn facilitates the optimization of processes, helping to save energy and improve the characteristics of final products. In the present study, pulps were produced by double-disc (DD) refined thermomechanical processes (DD-TMP) and have been characterized at the fibre cell wall micro/ultrastructural level based on Fernando and Daniel’s method (2010) of Simons’ staining and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The pulps studied were never-dried Norway spruce DD-TMP from a full-scale mill trial running under different process conditions; a) varying refining intensity, achieved by using a high-intensity turbine segment (HTS) and a standard (Ref) segment from Metso, and b) varying specific energy consumption (SEC). Improved energy efficiency was obtained with HTS segments, giving adequate or better pulp properties with respect to elongation, light scattering, Canadian Standard Freeness (CSF) at a similar tensile index level and lower energy consumption. Energy efficiency was gained through an elevated degree of D/IF and S2 fibrillation with low energy input. Both the SEC and segment designs had a significant impact on elevating the degree of D/IF. Statistical evaluation of fibre development with respect to D/IF gave evidence for improved energy efficiency in HTS refining. Ultrastructural studies on fibre surfaces showed that HTS refining produced better external fibrillation and leads to exposing the secondary S2 wall as fibre outer layer with different ribbon-type S2 fibrillation. Information obtained at the fibre wall level concerning D/IF and surface ultrastructure contribute to the fundamental knowledge about the pulp and handsheet properties and the energy efficiency of TMP processing.

Natural oils derived from linseed, rapeseed, soybean, and a special breed of sunflower were tested for the production of maleated fatty oils for paper sizing in the ene-reaction with maleic anhydride. All these maleated oils were subjected to a conventional sizing test proving their ability to hydrophobize handsheets. Natural oils having only monounsaturated fatty acid residues (oleic acid) in the triglycerides worked best by having lower product viscosity and higher yields. The optimized production procedure employs antioxidant addition, an increased maleic anhydride:triglyceride ratio of 4:1, as well as increased pressure to reduce undesired polymeric byproducts and to increase yield.

The off-axis tensile strength (OATS) of copy paper, filter paper, and sack paper was obtained from dog-bone specimens. The relationship between OATS and the off-axis angle (OAA) was predicted under several failure conditions. Additionally, the shear strengths (SS) of these papers were evaluated based on the results of OAT tests. The OATS could be accurately predicted under several Hill-type failure conditions. An equation for deriving the in-plane SS of these papers was proposed based on the tensile strength of the specimen with a 35° OAA, in which the contribution of the shear stress component was maximum.

The hypothesis has been tested that a carboxymethyl hemicellulose improves more effectively the dry strength of papers than a native hemicellulose. To that end, β-d-glucan from oat was treated with an alkaline ethanolic solution of sodium chloroacetate for different times to obtain a range of carboxymethylated β-d-glucan (CM-glucan) samples. The derivatization was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The physical properties of paper concerning burst and tensile strength as well as folding endurance were essentially improved if CM-glucan was added to unbleached kraft fiber suspension from pine before papermaking. The effects could be maximized by a proper selection of carboxymethylation time and the amount of CM-glucan added to the suspension. The effect was also beneficial in the case of recycled fibers.

The hydrolytic stability and sizing behavior of a new paper sizing agent based on renewable vegetable oils (maleated sunflower oil, high oleic: MSOHO) was compared to two conventional alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) specimens, a commercial sample, and a reagent-grade ASA sample. At various pH conditions as well as upon addition of Ca2+ ions, MSOHO was more stable than both ASA samples. This superior stability of MSOHO was also supported by zeta potential measurements over 1 week. Whereas for sizing of paper higher dosages of MSOHO were needed to gain certain water repellency as compared to the ASA samples, the addition of alum had a pronounced positive effect on the sizing efficiency of MSOHO. The higher stability of MSOHO made it possible to size with an MSOHO-starch emulsion that was aged for one day at room temperature, when conventional ASA-starch emulsion had long lost any sizing efficiency.

Maleated oils derived from high oleic sunflower oil (MSOHO) have promising applications in paper sizing as a green alternative to conventional reactive sizing agents, such as alkenyl succinic anhydride. In this study, MSOHO was comprehensively characterized analytically by attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy, 1H and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with full resonance assignment, and mass spectrometry.

Samples of two historical papers from the late 17th and early 18th centuries were irradiated with a 350-nm λmax light source. Atomic force microscopy examination of untreated samples of these laid paper sheets revealed notable surface inhomogeneity. Diffuse brightness values show that irradiation resulted in an initial decrease followed by a rapid increase in brightness with increasing irradiation time from 0.5 to 28 h. The bleaching effect then slowed, following a logarithmic path that did not plateau within 197 h of irradiation time. Irradiated sheets stored for 3 months exhibited brightness reversion of 7%. Fluorescence also decreased with irradiation time if excitation wavelengths of 320, 350, and 400 nm were applied for samples exposed to narrow-band irradiation at 350 nm. The fold endurance decreased by 34–72% after 197 h of irradiation. Changes in tear and tensile values were less dramatic. The Z-direction ultrasonic velocity decreased after 197 h of irradiation; however, the ultrasonic conductivity partially recovered during 9 months of storage.

The microscopic changes in the structure of paper at different equilibrium moisture contents were examined using the novel technique of contrast variation small angle neutron scattering (SANS). Contrast variation, by appropriate selection of the H2O:D2O ratio, was used to simplify the scattering from hydrated paper to a two-phase approximation. The two phases were paper polymers (cellulose, lignin and hemicelluloses) and a phase consisting of water and voids. The two-phase approximation is justified by consideration of the chemistry and density of each of the polymer species belonging to paper, and by matching the scattering length density of the sorbed moisture to air. The neutron intensity at the higher scattering angles examined was successfully fitted using the Porod law, which is applicable to scattering from a two-phase system at the high scattering angle limit. This limit is related to the specific surface area between the two phases. The limiting scattered intensity of neutrons was found to increase with increasing moisture content for a range of paper materials. It is concluded that the sorption of water increased the limiting intensity because water disrupted polymer-polymer bonding. The Porod law also predicts the slope of the intensity/scattering angle curve at the high scattering angle limit.

To obtain more knowledge of the properties affecting print quality and adhesion characteristics in the printing process, attention has been directed to the nature of surface energy. The aim was to compare different surface-energy calculation models and to investigate the influence of surface roughness on wetting of coated offset papers. The wetting process was studied by static contact angle measurements using a series of reference liquids. Topographical characterization was carried out using atomic force microscopy. Surface energy components were determined using different calculation models. The determination can be considerably simplified using a mono-monopolar model, which has been proven in previous studies. The surface energy components were derived from both apparent and topography-corrected contact angles. The surface topography had a significant effect on wetting of the samples studied.

Paper made of groundwood was surface treated by atmospheric plasma of the diffuse coplanar surface barrier discharge (DCSBD) type in air and in nitrogen. Changes in surface composition and chemical bonding of the constituent elements were studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and alterations in wetting were examined by contact angle measurements. Air plasma treatment resulted in strong oxidation but no N incorporation, while the ratio of the area of the O1 component (binding energy 532.1 eV) to that of the O2 component (533.2 eV) decreased, reflecting an increase in the proportion of O in C–O type bonds. Nitrogen plasma treatment followed by exposure to the atmosphere resulted in a slight N incorporation (1.5 at.%) and oxidation even more intense than observed for air plasma treatment. The O1/O2 ratio slightly increased, implying more O in C=O type bonds. The time dependence of surface oxidation showed a local maximum at treatment time of approximately 2 s for both the air and nitrogen plasmas.

Paper material produced after about 1850 contains additives that cause progressive acidification of the cellulose matrix, which can result in severe degradation of the material and simultaneous deterioration in its strength properties. This problem has affected whole stocks of libraries and archives, in response to which the process of “mass deacidification” has been developed. In this study, the structure and chemistry of the active reagent used in the main variant of this process has been identified as magnesium n-propoxycarbonate. The reagent, introduced in an inert fluorinated solvent, neutralizes acids in the paper matrix and simultaneously deposits a reserve of alkaline magnesium salts that counteract re-acidification. At the same time, it is much less alkaline than the magnesium alcoholates so that alkali-induced degradation reactions of cellulose (β-alkoxy elimination) are avoided.

Reactive paper sizing agents, such as alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), provide hydrophobicity to paper. The reactive anhydride group of these reagents is highly susceptible to reaction with water and thus resistance against hydrolysis is of primary importance for their practical application. This study describes different application-relevant properties of recently developed sizing agents that are based on renewable vegetable oils including hydrolysis behavior, time-dependent sizing efficiency, and tendency to form deposits or foam. The novel sizing agents – maleated high oleic sunflower oil (MSOHO) and maleated rapeseed oil (MRSO) – are compared to conventional ASA as the state-of-the-art sizing agent. Although the reactive group is the same in all reagents, there are pronounced differences between the three reagents, with MSOHO showing the best performance, i.e., the slowest hydrolysis. This oil has a higher ratio of hydrophobic side chains that impede the water attack at the anhydride group. Also, the higher viscosity of MSOHO plays an important role in performance, because diffusion of water molecules into a MSOHO emulsion droplet is much slower than in the case of conventional ASA.

Maleated high oleic sunflower oil (maleated SOHO, MSOHO) is a promising substitute for alkenyl succinic anhydrides (ASA) that are widely used as sizing agents for paper. The part of the MSOHO molecule that is believed to be responsible for adhesion of the molecule onto cellulose, i.e., the maleated oleic acid moiety, was separately prepared and analytically characterized. Structural analysis was completed by studies of the molecular fragments obtained upon ozonolysis. The interesting question of whether there was a preferential reactivity during the ene-reaction of maleic anhydride with oleates was answered in a way that the newly formed double bond was placed to either side with no apparent selectivity.

The indoor environment can constitute a serious health hazard if buildings are not properly constructed and finished. Building, finishing and furnishing materials may emit a large number of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the indoor air. That wood-composite products are among the sources of formaldehyde emissions is well documented. Up until now very little has been known about the emission of VOCs from wood-composite products (Merrill and Steiber 1987; Levin 1992; Sundin and Edenholm 1992; Catananti et al. 1993; Barry and Corneau 1999). The aim of this work is the determination of VOC and formaldehyde emissions from particleboard veneered with decorative paper foil.