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Bio-based additives received significant attention in pulp and paper properties improvement. For this, the most cited biochemical Cellulose Nano Fibrils (CNFs) and Cationic Starch (CS) were experimentally compared with the most declared synthetic chemical, Cationic Polyacrylamide (CPAM). SEM images showed better paper surface filling by the utilization of the chemicals. The three studied polymers, in solely or combination mechanism, improved mainly bagasse pulp and paper properties compared to the blank sample, except for pulp drainage, which decreased by CNFs to lower volumes presumably due to its intrinsic characteristics. Cationic polymers (CP) compared to CP/CNFs approaches increased pulp retention and drainage but decreased paper density and strengths. The best pulp retention and drainage achieved by CS followed by CPAM, while paper air persistency, density, and strength properties evaluated highest by CP/CNFs followed by CNFs. Generally, CS revealed a more significant improvement in pulp and paper properties than CPAM either with or without CNFs.

The world demand for paper has been increased due to the increasing population Therefore, to cop up the limited wood fiber resources introducing raw material in pulp and paper industries is necessary. The aims of this study to evaluate the pulp and paper-making properties of Caesalpinia decapetela based on proximate chemical composition, fiber morphology, pulping, bleaching, and physical test of the final product. The results proximate chemical analysis showed that C. decapetela has holocellulose content of 78.14±0.1 % and lignin content 18.0±0.04 %. Fiber morphology revealed that the fibers were 0.708 mm long, 18.63 μm width, and have 5.1 μm cell wall thicknesses. Kraft pulping of C. decapetale, was performed at different active alkali (5 %, 10 %, 15 %, 20 % and 25 %) and temperature (150, 160 and 170 °C), keeping the sulphidity 25 % constant. The pulp maximum yield 44.1 % was obtained at active alkali content of 15 %, temperature 160 °C, and cooking time 90 minutes. The effect of pulping on fiber morphology was studied using scanning electron microscopy which showed the surface of fiber before pulping was tight, orderly arranged and the texture was relatively hard. After pulping, there was the removal of lignin, hemicellulose, and cellulose. Due to this fiber become soft loosened and contain micro-pores. Pulp produced was bleached, sheet preparation and testing were performed. The prepared paper sheets have a tensile index of 28.19 Nm/gm, burst index of 1.359 kPa m 2 / gm 1.359\hspace{0.1667em}\text{kPa}\hspace{0.1667em}{\text{m}^{2}}/\text{gm} , and tear indices of 4.2 mN m 2 / gm 4.2\hspace{0.1667em}\text{mN}\hspace{0.1667em}{\text{m}^{2}}/\text{gm} . This study concluded C. decapetale can be the new raw material for pulp and paper making industries. However, pilot plant studies are required to check this raw material for the full recommendation of the pulp and paper industries.

The utilization of waste resulting from the pulp and paper industry as soil for technical and biological recultivation of disturbed lands, industrial waste discharges and other applications in line with their intended purpose use have been explored. Analysis of soil resulting from the frozen sediments of lignin settled sludge of JSC "BPPM" with the WAS resulting from the sewage treatment facilities have been carried out, chemical and agrochemical composition as well as toxicological properties have been studied. It is established that the resulting soil can intensify the recultivation succession of disturbed lands and contribute to plants growth and biomass increase, and their reproduction ability.

Alstonia boonei, an abundant lesser utilized species within the West African Subregion, was evaluated as an alternative raw material for pulp and paper production. The basic density (BD), fibre characteristics [fibre length (FL), fibre diameter (FD), lumen diameter (LD) and wall thickness (WT)], derived anatomical indices [Flexibility Ratio (FR), Slenderness Ratio (SR), Rigidity Coefficient (RC), Luce’s Shape Factor (LSF), Solids Factor (SF) and Runkel Ratio (RR)] and chemical composition (lignin, holocellulose, 1% NaOH solubility and ash contents) of A. boonei were studied to evaluate variation along the trunk (base, middle and top portions) and ascertain its suitability for pulp and paper production. Significant variations were observed in the density and fibre characteristics along the trunk of the tree. Although the FD was large, the observed adequate FL, thin-wall and large LD implied easy beating of fibres and manufacture of dense, smooth and strong papers. The favourable SF, RR, FR, RC, and LSF values obtained for the fibres would produce papers with suitable burst and tearing strengths and folding endurance. Chemically the lower lignin (< 30%), ash and 1% NaOH solubility and the high holocellulose contents of A. boonei, will generate a higher pulp yield. A. boonei although a low-density species, will be desirable for pulp and paper production.

We present how harmful different wood extractives carried over to paper mill with unbleached softwood Kraft pulp are for the strength of packaging papers and boards. The investigations were done by simulating industrial papermaking conditions in laboratory-scale trials for handsheet production. It was found that fatty acids are the most relevant compounds in the carryover pitch extractives (CPEs), as they readily interfere in fiber–fiber bonding strength, control the properties of CPE micelles, and are furthermore the most abundant compounds. Addition of cationic starch improved strength and evened out the strength differences of handsheets with different CPE compounds. Oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid) was an exception, as it was above average harmful for paper strength without cationic starch and also heavily impaired the functioning of cationic starch. As a whole, these findings demonstrate that fatty acids, especially unsaturated ones, are the most relevant CPE compounds contributing to the reduced efficiency of cationic starch and decreased strength of unbleached softwood Kraft paper. This makes the cleaning of process waters by precipitating CPEs on the pulp fibers harmful for paper strength.

Scaling biosynthesis of bacterial nanocellulose (BNC) allowed samples of composite paper with an increased proportion of BNC to be obtained. This work aims to study BNC samples and bleached soft wood kraft pulp (BSKP) composite paper with a ratio of components varying across a wide range: 10:90, 30:70, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 90:10. The method of paper manufacturing was chosen based on the determinations of strength and deformation properties of composite samples with the BNC:BSKP ratio of 20:80. Surface application of BNT on BSKP handsheet provided for an increase in the strength values (tear resistance – by 37%, burst index – by 17%) and deformation characteristics (tension stiffness – by 66%, fracture work – by 8%, breaking length – by 4%) compared to a reference sample. The formation of composites is confirmed in all samples. Scanning electron spectroscopy revealed that paper composites comprise interlaced micro BSKP and nano BNC fibres. As the proportion of BNC in composites elevated, densification of the structure was observed due to an increased fraction of cross-linked nanosized elements. IR spectroscopy indicated the resemblance of cellulose structure in all samples. It was found that an increase in the degree of polymerisation of composite paper is directly proportional to an increase in the BNC amount in the samples. The filtering ability of composite paper samples against microorganisms in the culture liquid of the Medusomyces gisevii Sa-12 producer was studied. It should be noted that yeast retention is achieved with 70% BNC in the paper composite. The presented properties of the new material determine prospects for its use in filtering microorganisms.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of using whey powder (different concentrations and treatment repetitions) as a probiotic agent on the quantitative and qualitative properties of stored bagasse intended for use in the pulp and paper industry. For this purpose, whey powder was added in three concentrations and the treatment was applied once or twice. After that, soda pulp was prepared under conventional conditions. Then, handsheets (80 g/m2) were made and tested in terms of paper properties, and the results were compared. The findings revealed that increasing the concentration of whey powder and the number of treatments significantly improved the pulp and paper characteristics, thus, using the treatment with 2% whey powder twice and 0.4% whey powder once led to the best results for bagasse protection in terms of quality of the raw material, pulp and handsheets.

Paper manufacturing on a global scale is a highly competitive market which requires to constantly improve the manufacturing process to be competitive. To decrease production cost paper manufactures, add filler material prior to sheet forming to replace costly wood fiber based raw material. This research project investigates the use of in-situ precipitated calcium carbonate produced in the presence of eucalyptus fiber material at a 41.0% filler level prior to beating. The in-situ filler containing eucalyptus fiber suspension was used on a 12’ (304mm) wide Laboratory Fourdrinier Paper Machine together with non-filler containing eucalyptus fiber material, and a commercial precipitated calcium carbonate filler material. The manufactured in-situ fiber suspension resulted in a higher ash retention compared to the addition of the powdered commercial PCC filler material. In addition to commercial filler material retention is improved at higher filler addition above 30%. The increased ash retention is linked to the increased micro fibrillation fiber material of the in-situ filler-fiber suspension forming neckless like particles on the fibers microfibrils. Mechanical paper properties showed an improvement for in-situ precipitated filler material compared to commercial filler material addition. Optical properties could be improved in comparison to the eucalyptus fiber without filler addition for in-situ precipitated filler material and a combination of in-situ and commercial filler material.

Transition towards carbon neutrality will require application of negative carbon emission technologies (NETs). This creates a new opportunity for the industry in the near future. The pulp and paper industry already utilizes vast amounts of biomass and produces large amounts of biogenic carbon dioxide. The industry is well poised for the use of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which is considered as one of the key NETs. If the captured carbon dioxide can be used to manufacture green fuels to replace fossil ones, then this will generate a huge additional market where pulp and paper mills are on the front line. The objective of this study is to evaluate future trends and policies affecting the pulp and paper industry and to describe how a carbon neutral or carbon negative pulp and paper production process can be viable. Such policies include, as examples, price of carbon dioxide allowances or support for green fuel production and BECCS implementation. It is known that profitability differs depending on mill type, performance, energy efficiency, or carbon dioxide intensity. The results give fresh understanding on the potential for investing in negative emission technologies. Carbon capture or green fuel production can be economical with an emission trade system, depending on electricity price, green fuel price, negative emission credit, and a mill’s emission profile. However, feasibility does not seem to evidently correlate with the performance, technical age, or the measured efficiency of the mill.

The pulp and paper industry is highly energy-intensive. In mills that use chemical pulping, roughly half of the higher heating value of the cellulosic material used to manufacture the product typically is incinerated to generate steam and electricity that is needed to run the processes. Additional energy, much of it non-renewable, needs to be purchased. This review considers publications describing steps that pulp and paper facilities can take to operate more efficiently. Savings can be achieved, for instance, by minimizing unnecessary losses in exergy, which can be defined as the energy content relative to a standard ambient condition. Throughout the long series of unit operations comprising the conversion of wood material to sheets of paper, there are large opportunities to more closely approach a hypothetical ideal performance by following established best-practices.

The adsorption of locust bean gum (LBG) onto Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft (NBSK) pulp improved paper tensile and burst strength and lowered refining energy by strengthening inter-fibre bonding. Adsorption kinetics and isotherms were investigated to develop a fundamental understanding of the adsorption mechanism. The adsorption rate followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and the activation energy was 99.34 kJ·mol−1, suggesting chemisorption. The adsorption rate constant increased rapidly with temperature from 25 to 45 °C (k = 1.93 to 24.03 g·mg−1·min−1), but the amount adsorbed at equilibrium decreased (qe = 1.91 to 0.48 mg·g−1 o.d. fibre). LBG adsorption to NBSK at 25 °C was consistent with the Langmuir adsorption model for LBG n = 5.00, and the equilibrium constant Kf = 2.57 mg·g−1·(mg·L−1)−1/n at 25 °C. Favorable adsorption conditions for negatively charged LBG were identified: 25 °C for 10 min, low dosage level ( 150 r.p.m.), acidic or neutral conditions (pH 2–7) without salt addition. Graphic abstract

Introduction. The Shchuchiy Bay is located in the western part of the skerry area of Lake Ladoga near the town of Priozersk. For almost 20 years, the bay has experienced an anthropogenic impact from the ingress of untreated wastewater from the Priozersk Pulp and Paper Mill (PPM). Systematic microbiological studies of the Shchuchiy Bay ecosystem were started in the middle of the 1970s by the Institute of Limnology of the Russian Academy of Sciences and continued after the PPM closure in 1986. Materials and methods. The ecosystem of the bay was studied in detail during the growing season of 2013–2014; periodic studies were carried out in 2015–2018. Retrospective data were also used for the analysis. Water samples were taken at four stations from the surface horizon. The following microbiological indicators were determined: the abundance of bacterioplankton and the percentages of various morphological types of bacterial cells. Results and discussion. A comparison of the quantitative level of development of the bacterial community in the bay in different periods showed a gradual decrease in the abundance of bacterioplankton as the anthropogenic impact weakened after the closure of the Priozersky PPM from 12.40 million cells ml–1 in 1987 to an average value of 2.62±1.03 million cells ml–1 in 2013–2018. A positive correlation was found between the concentration of bacteria and water temperature. The percentage of rod-shaped microorganisms in the water of the bay also decreased as the anthropogenic impact weakened from 73.4 % in 1987 to 53.1±7.6 % in 2013–2018, which indicated an improvement in water quality. Conclusion. A stable decrease in the abundance of bacteria from the level characteristic of highly polluted and eutrophic water bodies to the level characteristic of mesotrophic and mesotrophic-eutrophic water bodies is a reliable criterion for the restoration of the ecosystem of the Shchuchiy Bay to the state characteristic of similar bays of Lake Ladoga.

Transforming Pulp and Paper (P&P) mills into Integrated Forest Biorefineries (IFBR) is a prominent solution to save Canadian P&P industry that has been facing decline of conventional paper demand. ...

Xylan is the primary hemicellulose in most hardwood species, especially in birch. Research has highlighted the exploitation of xylans as a strength-enhancing additive to paper due to the current trend for the effective utilization of biomass. In this paper, a new pulping process was proposed, which involved the extraction of xylan prior to pulping, followed by the re-adsorption of the pulp after the final stage in the digester, followed by a suitable bleaching process. The aim of this work was to bleach hardwood kraft pulp (brown pulp) with adsorbed birch xylan via hydrogen peroxide and study the effect of the bleaching parameters on the paper properties. The results showed that the optical properties of paper decreased; however, the mechanical properties increased after the brown pulp adsorbed birch xylan. During the bleaching process, better mechanical properties were obtained with shorter bleaching times and lower bleaching temperatures, initial pHs, and MgSO4 dosages. However, the optical properties were improved as the bleaching time, temperature, initial pH, and MgSO4 dosage were increased. The adsorption of birch xylan could effectively modify the mechanical properties of paper made from brown pulp under various phases.

The pulp and paper industry is primarily dependent on fibrous wood for pulp and paper production. However, this over-dependence on fibrous wood poses serious environmental challenges such as the diminishing of the fibrous wood stocks, deforestation, emission of greenhouse gases, and global warming. Therefore, to mitigate these environmental challenges associated with its utilization for paper and pulp production, other sustainable raw material sources can also be considered for the production of paper and pulp. There are enormous benefits associated with the utilization of non-wood fibres as an alternative and sustainable raw materials source for the production of paper and pulp. These benefits have in the recent past prompted millers in China, India, Brazil, and the USA to consider the utilization of non-wood fibres in paper and pulp production. In Kenya, the pulp and paper industry is very much dependent on fibrous wood for production and the industry is yet to fully embrace the utilization of nonwood fibres for paper and pulp production. Further, the dependence on fibrous wood has contributed significantly to the decline of paper pulp and paper production, deforestation, and rise in paper importations due to insufficient raw material supplies. The importation of paper and pulp products has further led to the collapse of the paper industry in Kenya. The sector stands a chance of revival and vibrancy through the utilization of the abundant agricultural residues and feedstocks lying in the agricultural fields across the country. Similar experiences elsewhere have proved that the abundance of agricultural waste can be utilized for the production of paper and pulp due to their excellent fibre content for specialty papers, and easy pulpability. The agricultural residues are therefore considered a quintessential alternative and sustainable source of raw materials for the pulp and paper industry. Moreover, their utilization will mitigate environmental impacts such as deforestation, climate change, and pollution .

High per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substance (PFAS) concentrations have been detected in agricultural soils in Southwest Germany. Discharges of PFAS-contaminated paper sludge and compost are suspected to be the cause of the contamination. Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) have been detected also in groundwater, drinking water, and plants in this area. Recently, previously unknown compounds have been identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Major contaminants were polyfluorinated dialkylated phosphate esters (diPAPs) and N-ethyl perfluorooctane sulfonamide ethanol–based phosphate diester (diSAmPAP). In this study, HRMS screening for PFAS was applied to 14 soil samples from the contaminated area and 14 impregnated paper samples which were from a similar period than the contamination. The paper samples were characterized by diPAPs (from 4:2/6:2 to 12:2/12:2), fluorotelomer mercapto alkyl phosphates (FTMAPs; 6:2/6:2 to 10:2/10:2), and diSAmPAP. In soil samples, diPAPs and their transformation products (TPs) were the major contaminants, but also FTMAPs, diSAmPAP, and their TPs occurred. The distribution patterns of the carbon chain lengths of the precursor PFAS in soil samples were shown to resemble those in paper samples. This supports the hypothesis that paper sludge is a major source of contamination. The presence of major degradation products like PFCAs, FTSAs, or PFOS and their distribution of carbon chain lengths indicate the activity of biotic or abiotic degradation processes and selective leaching processes from the upper soil horizons. Graphical abstract Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00216-021-03463-9.

The paper presents a research on the disposal of the toxic waste of pulp and paper mill (sludge-lignin with the empirical formula CH1.51N0.05S0.03Cl0.01O0.54through its oxidation in supercritical water-oxygen fluid, including the case of using methane as a co-fuel. The experiments were carried out with a flow reactor of original design at a pressure of 25 MPa, temperature gradient along the vertical axis (from top to bottom: 390–600°C), and variation in the flow rate of the sludge-lignin (with the addition of NaOH, 1.6 wt %), oxygen, and methane. The experiments yielded data on the content of phenols in the water and the composition of the gaseous products collected at the outlet of the reactor versus the oxygen excess ratio. From these data, as well as the time dependences of the reactor wall temperature and the power of the ohmic heaters, it follows that using distributed supply of methane to compensate for the energy for heating of the reagents is preferable as compared with local inlet of methane to the upper part of the reactor. It has been shown that the addition of methane makes it possible to reduce the oxygen excess required for complete oxidation of the organic components of sludge-lignin.

The fibre characteristics of five Spondia mombin stands were studied to determine their suitability for pulp and paper production. Wood slivers obtained parallel to grain at three (3) different positions along the bole were macerated in combined identical amounts of glacial acetic acid plus hydrogen peroxide under heat at between 80-100o C. Macerated fibres were washed clean of mixture and mounted on slide for microscopic examination of fibre characteristics. Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed for the experiment. Data were analysed using one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) while, the Duncan’s Multiple Range Test (DMRT) was used to separate means of significant differences among the treatments. Results show that significant differences existed in fibre characteristic of sampled trees, however the fibre length ranged from 0.98-1.0 mm, fibre diameter (18.22-21.47 um), lumen width (10.90-12.98 um) and cell wall thickness (3.86-4.60 um). Significant differences were also observed among the derived fibre characteristics, the Runkel ratio ranged from 0.66-8.89, elasticity coefficient (57.22-60.50 %), coefficient of rigidity (19.78-22.24 %), slenderness ratio (43.27-46.5). This implied that, the fibres of S. mombin were short and elastic which make the wood species an appropriate raw material for pulp and paper making especially when blended with other long fibre species.

The potential of alkaline cellulo-xylanolytic enzymes from non-pathogenic Bacillus subtilis strain was tested for deinking of photocopier waste paper. Cellulase and xylanase play a crucial role in deinking of different types of waste paper. Partial purification of cellulo-xylanolytic enzymes was carried out using ultrafiltration followed by ammonium sulfate precipitation. The ultrafiltered enzyme was used for deinking the photocopier waste paper along with chemical deinking. An enzyme dose of 0.6 IU/g and reaction time of 60 min for ultrafiltered cellulo-xylanolytic enzyme significantly increased deinking efficiency, tear index (9.52%) and folding endurance (5±2%) as compared to chemical deinking. There was improvement in strength properties such as tear index and double-fold along with freeness of pulp (18%). There was slight decrease in tensile index (0.6%) and burst index (16%) while ISO brightness remained unaffected. Enzymatic deinking (74.3%) by ultrafiltered cellulo-xylanolytic from Bacillus subtilis was found significant over conventional chemical deinking.

Today the print quality of digital printing techniques has improved and is considered satisfactory and competitive to analogue techniques for certain graphic products. Satisfactory print quality mostly depends on the interaction of ink and printing substrate where ink penetration has an important role. Namely, the ink penetration affects the parameters that describe the print quality together with visual appearance of print density and mottling. Therefore, it is important to select an adequate printing substrate for each printing technique. Awareness of environmental problems related to the shortage of wood raw materials has led to an increase in the use of recycled printing paper and in particular the implementation of new alternative sources of cellulose fibres instead of virgin wood fibres in the papermaking process. In this research the emphasis is precisely on defining the influence of ink penetration into laboratory papers made of triticale pulp on the final print quality. The laboratory printing papers were obtained by mixing triticale pulp with pulp from recycled fibres in three different portions. Papers were thereafter printed by ultraviolet (UV) inkjet printer and the ink penetration within laboratory papers with and without straw pulp was analysed using two methods of ink penetration analysis (microscopic/spectroscopic). The influence of ink penetration on the final print quality was observed and analysed based on several quality parameters (optical ink density, mottling and colorimetric values). These results confirmed that triticale pulp in laboratory papers provides equal print quality compared to laboratory papers made only from pulp from recycled fibres.

Cellulose based nanomaterials have the great potential to be applied to paper as bulk additive or coating material to improve overall final properties, especially in secondary fiber. In the present work, the effect of applying different kinds of cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) to papers obtained from recycled fibers using size press on physical, mechanical and barrier properties was investigated and compared with the sole use of starch as coating material. The coating process of CNF was carried out by the addition of size press grade starch to coating suspension. As a cellulose source, wheat straw was evaluated and CNF was obtained through oxidative and enzymatic pretreatments. Results indicate that starch/CNF suspension improves the overall paper properties. As a result of the deposition of coating suspension contains of 4 % wt. periodate-oxidized CNF onto paper surface, tensile and burst indices of papersheets increased as 52.2 % and 194.4 %. Significant decreases were observed in air permeability as 69.8 %. Compression tests also have been conducted to evaluate papersheets end-use properties. In comparison to the other pretreated CNF, due to is lower viscosity, applying periodate-oxidized CNF as size press significantly increased the mechanical properties of the papers fabricated from the recycled pulps. TUBITAK-TEYDEBTurkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Arastirma Kurumu (TUBITAK) [1505]; Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Technology and Innovation Funding Programs Directorate [1505, 5180044] This work was supported by TUBITAK-TEYDEB 1505 (The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, Technology and Innovation Funding Programs Directorate 1505), Project No. 5180044. WOS:000703585400013 2-s2.0-85108063350

This study optimizes a novel surfactant-assisted green liquor dregs (GLD) pretreatment of paper mill sludge (PMS), both of which are wastes from the kraft pulping industry, using a combined Response Surface Methodology (RSM) design. Optimized conditions give a maximal reducing sugar release of 16.38 g/L. A substantial reduction in heavy metals aluminum, chromium, cobalt, arsenic, lead, and copper after pretreatment illustrates the enhancement of substrate digestibility by reducing toxic elements. Separate hydrolysis and fermentation (SHF) and simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) for hydrogen production are assessed. SSF produced a hydrogen yield of 3.72 mL/g, displaying a 36.26% increase from pretreated PMS compared to SHF. These findings provide insights into possible methods of reducing process duration, energy input, and costs incurred with waste disposal within the paper industry. Furthermore, improved hydrogen yield using an SSF process demonstrates the potential beneficiation of pulp and paper GLD and PMS wastes.

Paper based lateral flow systems are widely used biosensor platforms to detect biomolecules in a liquid sample. Proteins, bacteria, oligonucleotides, and nanoparticles were investigated in the literature. In this work we designed a magnetic platform including dual magnets and tested the flow of micron size immunomagnetic particles alone and when loaded with cells on two different types of papers. The wetting conditions of the paper and the applied external magnetic field are the two dominant factors affecting the particle and cell transport in paper. The images recorded with a cell phone, or with a bright field optical microscope were analyzed to measure the flow of particles and cells. The effect of wetting conditions and magnetic force were measured, and it was shown that in the worst case 90% of the introduced cells reached to the edge of the paper. The paper based magnetophoretic lateral flow systems can be used for cell assays.

Lean manufacturing (LM) is established as a best practice to improve the performance of manufacturing industries. Not all the manufacturing industries realize the benefits of LM practices specifically continuous process industries. The present research work is intended to study the advantages of implementing LM practices in an ethical paper industry which is a continuous production industry. Presently, the industry suffers with the problems such as lack of productivity, raw material wastes, underutilized resources, and lack of standard practices in the production. Gemba technique is adapted to record the information related to the present manufacturing environment. Based on the current state analysis, the feasible lean tools are selected and implemented such as 5S, Kaizen, and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). The improvements have been noted as reduced tool change over time, reduced material wastes, effective utilization of resources and provide safety guidelines to workers and operations. The implications of these improvements increased the productivity also.

The sorption properties of organomineral composite sorbents have been investigated by ICP-MS method. The diatomite of the Jradzor deposit and bentonite of the Sarigyuh deposit (Armenia) were used as inorganic constituents. Diatomite serves as a structure-forming component and provides mass transfer due to its high porosity (V = 2.0 cm3/g) and large pore sizes (150–200 nm). Bentonite is responsible for the functionality of the sorbents. The organic component is also responsible for the functionality of the obtained sorbents. Paper pretreated with acids (nitric and phosphoric) was used as an organic component. A synthetic solution containing cations of heavy metals was used as an object of study. The experiments were carried out in static mode on a Jar-Test device.

An approach of green in situ synthesis single-step method was applied to produce antibacterial paper. The objective was to investigate the effect of precursor addition on the formation of zinc oxide particles using an in situ single-step method. Zinc chloride concentrations of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 M were prepared and added into a solution of algae extract and bamboo pulp. The prepared pulps were tested and made into handsheets using a papermaking machine based on TAPPI T205 (2006). Morphological observation of treated papers was conducted using a field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM). An average of 400 to 570 nm zinc oxide spherical-shaped particle was observed on the fibers of paper. The percentage of element composition of the treated paper were 15.08% to 34.08% of zinc and 17.45% to 32.59% of oxygen captured via scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis. The crystallinity test was performed using X-ray dispersion (XRD). A higher percentage of precursors exhibited a more amorphous structure. A measurement of more than 30% increment of inhibition zone was obtained from 10.00 to 25.00 mm against S. aureus, S. choleraesuis, and E. coli. Precursors addition of more than 0.3 M would have the most potential to enhance the growth of zinc oxide via in situ preparation, hence providing better antibacterial properties of the prepared papers.

Environmental and health concerns are driving food packaging to reduce the use of poly- or perfluorinated compounds and petroleum-based polymers. Here, we successfully obtained good oil-proof paper by combining cellulose nanofibril (CNF) film with filter paper through film transfer. The process was not only facile but also did not require chemical reagents other than water. To achieve the kit number 12, the basis weight of the CNF film was 2.1 g/m2, which was much less than the amount required for coating. The calendering process further reduced the pores thus improving the oil resistance of the film transfer paper. At a calendering pressure of 20 N/mm, only 1.4 g/m2 of the CNF film was required for kit number 12. This study provides a new way for the application of CNF in the field of oil resistance.

More than 50 billion disposable paper cups used for cold and hot beverages are sold within the United States each year. Most of the cups are coated with a thin layer of plastic — low density polyethylene (LDPE) — to prevent leaking and staining. While the paper in these cups is both recyclable and compostable, the LDPE coating is neither. In recycling a paper cup, the paper is separated from the plastic lining. The paper is sent to be recycled and the plastic lining is typically sent to landfill. In an industrial composting environment, the paper and lining can be composted together if the lining is made from compostable materials. Coating paper cups with a compostable performance material uniquely allows for used cups to be processed by either recycling or composting, thus creating multiple pathways for these products to flow through a circular economy. A segment of the paper converting industry frequently uses an extrusion grade of polylactic acid (PLA) for zero-waste venues and for municipalities with ordinances for local composting and food service items. The results among these early adopters reveal process inefficiencies that elevate manufacturing costs while increasing scrap and generally lowering output when using PLA for extrusion coating. NatureWorks and Sung An Machinery (SAM) North America researched the extrusion coating process utilizing the incumbent polymer (LDPE) and PLA. The trademarked Ingeo 1102 is a new, compostable, and bio-based PLA grade that is specifically designed for the extrusion coating process. The research team identified the optimum process parameters for new, dedicated PLA extrusion coating lines. The team also identified changes to existing LDPE extrusion lines that processors can make today to improve output. The key finding is that LDPE and PLA are significantly different polymers and that processing them on the same equipment without modification of systems and/or setpoints can be the root cause of inefficiencies. These polymers each have unique processing requirements with inverse responses. Fine tuning existing systems may improve over-all output for the biopolymer without capital investment, and this study showed an increase in line speed of 130% by making these adjustments. However, the researchers found that highest productivity can be achieved by specifying new systems for PLA. A line speed increase to more than 180% and a reduction in coat weight to 8.6 µm (10.6 g/m2 or 6.5 lb/3000 ft2) was achieved in this study. These results show that Ingeo 1102 could be used as a paper coating beyond cups.

Lignin/tannin/ZnONP composite coatings were designed for paper-based green packaging. Multiple functions, such as high strength, moisture resistance, low air permeance, heat endurance, UV aging resistance, and antibacterial/mold properties, were successfully integrated into one biobased coating. Prepolymerization improved the physical properties of coatings at high lignin contents. The best ingredient ratio was: 40% lignin, 15% tannin, and 10% ZnONPs (based on tannin weight), and the as-prepared biocoating was labeled LTZn-10. After coated with LTZn-10, the tensile strength and bursting strength of the packaging were efficiently enhanced by more than 3 times and were dramatically increased by 51.6 and 5.6 times at the wet state, respectively, which reveals that the packaging has favorable moisture resistance and it can be used in high humidity environments. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) proved that most of the pores on the paper were blocked by the coatings, which helped to decrease the air permeance by 10.3 times. Meanwhile, ZnONPs were evenly spread on the coatings, which endowed the packaging with excellent antibacterial/mold performance. No colony or mycelium was found in the test against Gram-negative/positive bacteria and eight common molds. Besides, antibacterial activity is only available while the bacteria come in contact with the coating and no active substances were released into the culture medium, which is a good property that can keep the cargo from contamination of antibacterial agents. In addition, the coated paper presented an improved Tg and thermal degradation temperature, indicating that the coated package has favorable thermostability and can maintain its outstanding physical properties in a wider temperature range. Lignin and tannin promoted the UV stability and service life of the coated paper, as a rare physical decrease was observed after UV aging for 72 h. The function-integrated biobased coating with favorable sustainability is a good candidate to be widely used in paper-based green packaging fields.

A new coating method was developed, based on cellulose regenerated from an N-methylmorpholine N-oxide (NMMO) solution applied to paper. In particular, the purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of the “deep coating” method using cellulose regenerated from NMMO solution and the classic pulp refining process as methods to improve paper mechanical properties and overall quality. The “deep coating” name comes from the fact that the coating process is combined with subsequent heating of the coating before its final solidification. As a result of this operation, deep penetration of the cellulosic solution into the paper structure occurs. This increases the contact surface of the solution with the cellulosic fibers, which increases the strength properties of the paper structure. It was found that the cellulosic coating increased the apparent density of the paper, the tensile strength, the elongation, the resistance to bursting, and the double fold number. However, the coating also decreased the air permeability and the tear resistance of the paper samples. Despite some technological difficulties, this method could be an attractive solution in the case of a need for additional functionalization of a paper structure.

Excellent mechanical and electrical properties of graphene-based paper-like materials are essential for applications in flexible conductors, energy-storage devices, etc. The graphene oxide (GO) supernatant separated by centrifugation and ultrasonication has been used to prepare graphene oxide paper and reduced graphene oxide paper (rGOP) with high strength and conductivity. However, this method has cumbersome steps and low supernatant concentration, which greatly increases time and energy consumption, and is not suitable for rapid batch preparation of high-strength and high-thickness rGOP. Herein, a high-speed mechanical shearing method has been used to efficiently exfoliate graphite oxide suspension into high-concentration GO slurry with large lateral size, and rGOP has been further prepared by blade coating and HI acid chemical reduction. Compared with the product prepared by ultrasonic exfoliation method, the average area of GO sheets obtained via the mechanical shear exfoliation method can reach around 16.31 μm2. As a result, the mechanical properties and conductivity of the prepared rGOP have been increased by 30% and 23.5%, respectively, with the tensile strength and electrical conductivity of 478.2 MPa and 208.4 S/cm being obtained. The developed method is of great significance for the large-scale production and emerging applications of lightweight and high-performance rGOP.

"Moringa oleifera (drumstick) wood was evaluated in terms of its chemical composition, morphological features, Kraft pulping behavior, ECF bleaching and mechanical strength properties – important parameters for pulp and paper making – in comparison with Acacia mangium. Moringa oleifera was found to have the following composition: holocellulose 65.5%, lignin 20.5%, pentosan 11.6%, -cellulose 40.5% and extractives content of 5.15%, which made it comparable with the Acacia mangium wood sample. The alkali prehydrolysis of Moringa oleifera was carried out using 2% NaOH at 150 °C. The prehydrolysis liquor (PHL) was found to contain 50.9 mg/kg of calcium, 5140 mg/kg of potassium and 312 mg/kg of iron content. The prehydrolysis step was followed by Kraft pulping in order to obtain chemical grade pulp of kappa number 15-16 under optimized conditions. The Moringa oleifera pulp was bleached using the DEpD bleaching sequence to reach 85% brightness (ISO). The bleached pulp had an average fiber length of 1.21 mm, which was higher than that of Acacia mangium – 0.782 mm. The mechanical strength properties of the unbleached and bleached pulps, such as tear, tensile and burst indices, were also determined to show their suitability for pulp and paper production."

The in-situ synthesis of calcium silicate in the fiber can not only meet the requirements for high loading of paper, but also make up and improve the reduction of paper performance caused by filling. In this investigation, the effects of pulp type, beating degree, fiber ratio, reaction time, rotational speed, dosage of lime milk and dispersant on calcium silicate loading and paper properties were investigated. The results showed that when the beating degree was 40 °SR, the ratio of softwood and hardwood pulp was 1:1, the reaction time was 60 min, the rotation speed was 600 r·min−1, the dosage of lime milk was 1.33 times of the theoretical amount, and the dosage of cationic polyacrylamide was 0.3 % (absolutely dry pulp), the ash content of hand-made sheet was 41.2 %, and the loading amount of calcium silicate was 26.3 %. Under this condition, the comprehensive performance of paper was the best.

The study aimed at the use of char produced during pyrolysis of mix plastic waste. It further focused on producing activated carbon from char and also found its efficacy as efficient adsorbent for treatment of pulp and paper mill wastewater. The activated carbon was characterized in comparison with raw char for their physical, surface and adsorptive properties. Batch type adsorption experiments were carried out using 100 ml wastewater to observe the individual effectiveness using five different variables such as adsorbent dose (0.25–2.0 g), pH (6–10), time (5–24 h), agitation speed (100–200 rpm) and temperature (30–50 °C) by keeping other variables constant which helped to find out the effective range of all the variables. The competency was evaluated on the basis of colour and lignin content of pulp and paper industry wastewater. Once the effective range of different variables was identified, the statistical analysis was conducted to monitor the mutual impact on the reduction in colour and lignin contents in wastewater. From the statistical design applied, the best result was obtained at activated carbon dose (1.25 g), pH (8.0), contact time (7 h), agitation speed (184 rpm) and temperature (40 °C). The study resulted in reduction of 96.48% in colour and 94.25% in lignin at optimized condition in comparison with 87.37 and 80.44%, respectively, at unoptimized conditions. A potential increase in reduction of 9.0% in colour and 14.0% in lignin content was achieved after optimization through statistical design that confirmed its usefulness.

Usage of cellulosic nanofibers, starch-nanocellulose, and polyacrylamide-nanocellulose hybrid systems were investigated for the replacement of imported long bleached kraft fibers in the production of durable papers. In this study, imported softwood kraft pulp was added to cotton pulp at four levels. Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) prepared from chemimechanical pulp was added to cotton pulp at a 5% level with optional 1% cationic starch or 0.1% cationic polyacrylamide. Comparative tests were done without NFC at three levels of either cationic starch or cationic polyacrylamide. For each condition, 80 gm-2 handsheets were made, and the physical, mechanical, and optical properties of the paper were compared. The results showed that increases of NFC yielded higher surface smoothness, tensile strength, resistance to bursting, tearing energy, folding endurance, yellowness, and opacity. It also reduced brightness and porosity whether added singly or in combination with cationic starch or polyacrylamide. Increasing cationic starch also increased surface smoothness, tensile strength, resistance to bursting, and folding endurance, but paper opacity was reduced. The field emission-scanning electron microscopy results showed that increased NFC reduced porosity, the paper surface became smoother, and the pores were relatively filled. Finally, the combined treatment of 5% NFC and 1% cationic starch is introduced as a suitable combination.

The pulp and paper industry converts roundwood and recycled fibre, collected from wastepaper into printing and writing papers, and other specialty grades of paper. The pulp and paper mills in Ontar...

This study focused on the applying endo-xylanases to reduce the use of bleaching agent, coupled with the production of xylooligosaccharides (XOs), in mulberry paper making. Paper mulberry pulp (PMP) was consecutively prepared from paper mulberry bark by traditional NaOH-treatment, and two types of thermostable endo-xylanase from Streptomyces thermovulgaris TISTR1948 (wild-type and recombinant endo-xylanases) were employed in the biobleaching of PMP. This process was optimized to achieve maximum XOs yields and the highest PMP quality. The optimal condition was an enzyme dosage of 125 U/g PMP at 12 h of reaction time, both in a 500 mL laboratory bottle and a 150 L reactor. The mixture obtained from the reactor was separated as liquid of XOs derived from PMP (PMP-XOs) and solid biobleached PMP. The PMP-XOs from wild-type endo-xylanase were composed of 31.6% xylopentaose (X5), 30.9% xylohexaose and higher-degree XOs (X ≥ 6), and 11.7% xylobiose (X2), whereas 76.6% of X5 and 8.6% of X2 were the main products from recombinant endo-xylanase. The PMP-XOs derived from both endo-xylanase types exhibited high antioxidant activities, reducing power, phenolic contents, and prebiotic efficacy. In addition, the application of both endo-xylanases enhanced the brightness of PMP by 5.1% and 3.5%, and reduced the kappa number by 9.1% and 3.6%, respectively. Biobleached PMP was subsequently subjected to the NaOCl bleaching step to produce the mulberry paper. This approach could reduce NaOCl consumption by 20–25%, making it an environmentally friendly alternative. The production of valuable prebiotics, such as PMP-XOs, further enhances the economic viability of this approach.

A high-barrier, strong, and antibacterial paper was fabricated by coating the acetylated cellulose solution with different contents of cinnamaldehyde (CIN) on Kraft paper. The antibacterial, antioxidant, mechanical, and barrier properties of coated paper were investigated. When the amount of CIN added in coating reached 6% v/v, the coated paper exhibited excellent antioxidant activity and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Notably, the dry and wet tensile strength of paper after coating was increased by 26.4 and 10.6 MPa, respectively. Furthermore, the coated papers' barrier properties against oil, water, water vapor, and oxygen were dramatically improved, especially for the water barrier rate up to 96.4%. Our coated papers with over 6% v/v CIN could extend beef's shelf-life for at least 4 days, which exhibited a promising prospect in eco-friendly antibacterial packaging.

The suitabilities of major agricultural residues were assessed as papermaking feedstocks. All the examined agricultural residues were assumed as potential candidates for substituting hardwood fibers in mixed pulp blends from a fiber morphological perspective. Wheat, barley, rice, rapeseed, maize, sunflower, sugarcane bagasse, coconut husk, and two genotypes of miscanthus grass underwent identical maceration. The fiber length, fiber width, cell wall thickness, and lumen diameter were measured to calculate the slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, and Runkel ratio. The average fiber length ranged from 0.50 mm ± 0.32 mm (MG-S-02-V) to 1.15 mm mm ± 0.58 mm (sugarcane bagasse). The fiber width ranged from 10.77 μm ± 3.28 μm (rice straw) to 22.99 mm ± 5.20 mm (sunflower stalk). The lumen diameter ranged from 4.52 μm ± 2.52 μm (rice straw) to 13.23 μm ± 4.87 μm (sunflower stalk). The cell wall thickness ranged from 3.02 μm ± 0.95 μm (rice straw) to 4.80 μm ± 1.48 μm (sunflower stalk). The slenderness ratio, flexibility coefficient, and Runkel ratio values ranged between 28.08 to 58.11, 37.97 to 60.8, and 0.62 to 1.68, respectively. Wheat, maize, rapeseed, sugarcane bagasse, and coconut husk were found to be appropriate residue sources for papermaking feedstocks.

In order to obtain a lignin-based adsorbent with low cost, simple operation and no further modification, a calcium lignin adsorbent was prepared from chemical mechanical pulping (CMP) waste liquor by directly calcification from lime. The calcium lignin was characterized by BET, SEM, TEM, FT-IR and solid-state NMR analyses. The results showed that the molecular structure of the calcium lignin particles did not change when compared to sodium lignin, the formation mechanism of calcium lignin was revealed. The initial COD and lignin contents of CMP waste liquid were 54858 mg/L and 24.39 g/L, the conversion rate of lignin can reach 71.36% when was deal with lime. Thus, most of the lignin resources in the waste liquid were recovered. The middle-stage wastewater (MSWW) of pulping and papermaking was dealt with calcium lignin, the COD removal rate was up to 85.83%. The adsorption isotherms and kinetics were well fitted by the Langmuir model and pseudo-second-order kinetic model, respectively. Lime was regenerated from the used calcium lignin with high-temperature calcination, the conversion rate of calcium ions can reach 83.56%. Overall, the calcium lignin prepared by the one-step method exhibited great potential for effectively removing COD from middle-stage wastewater.

In the packaging sector of the printing industry, different coating applications are tried and investigated in order to increase the surface appearance and performance characteristics of paper and cardboard. The printability, water and ink absorption capacity, frictional resistance, light sensitivity of the visual graphical design that are going to be printed on the packaging papers are some of them. In this study, different types of cardboards that are used as a packaging material were chosen and coated with nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC)/PVA at different rates (%). In order to determine effective and economical usage conditions, the coating solutions, at three different concentrations as 3 wt.%, 5 wt. %, 7 wt.%, were prepared. The coating was applied on the test papers, which were at the same weights (350 g/m2) and had different surface properties as matte glossy, bright glossy, American Bristol. NCC/PVA existence on the coated paper surface was confirmed with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). The impact of the coating, which was prepared at different concentrations, on the packaging materials was studied with respect to thickness, stiffness, water absorbability, contact angle and surface tension.

The paper industry is an important component in the Colombian economy, the need for the continuous use of paper and cardboard in different activities results in the generation of paper sludge, for this reason there is an imminent need to generate alternatives for the use of these industrial wastes. which have been on the rise in recent years. This study is divided into two stages, the first is the evaluation through experimental analysis of the demonstration of the effectiveness of paper mud as an important source of carbon in composting processes, the second is the life cycle analysis (LCA) of the Alternative replacement of Composting vs. Synthetic Fertilizers. The product obtained from the evaluation corresponds to a stabilized compost with chicken manure, which is an important source of Carbon, Nitrogen and Calcium Carbonate, resulting in an environmentally sustainable alternative compared to the use of synthetic fertilizers. In the future, an increase in the use of fertilizers is expected, due to the growth of the world population, which generates an expansion of food production and an imminent need to attend to it. The ALC provides a better understanding of the process and its environmental impacts, the results will allow us to conclude on the most appropriate management option by showing the advantages and disadvantages associated with the use of compost. Organic fertilizers, unlike synthetic fertilizers, improve the fertility, texture and structure of the soil in the long term, promoting good drainage, aeration, water retention and root penetration, in addition to contributing to the stabilization of pH in acidic soils. The main challenges in integrating composting from paper sludge and chicken manure is to balance the C / N ratio, making a balance of the nutrient mixture and thus improving composting times, the loss of humidity, temperature gain, microbiological control and porosity.

The purpose of present work was to obtain bactericidal materials using heulandite-clinoptilolite from the Rkoni plot of the Tedzami deposit, Eastern Georgia, to study their properties and use them as a filler for the production of bactericidal paper. Silver-, copper-, and zinc-containing microporous materials have been prepared using ion-exchange reactions between preliminary acid-treated zeolite microcrystals and a salt of a corresponding bioactive metal in the solid phase followed by washing with distilled water. Synthesized in such way adsorbent-ion-exchangers are characterized by X-ray energy dispersion spectra, powder X-ray diffraction patterns, and Fourier transform infra-red spectra. Obtained materials remain the zeolite crystal structure and contain over 130 mg/g of silver, 70 mg/g of copper, and 55 mg/g of zinc. Prepared materials show bacteriostatic activity towards gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli, gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, fungal pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, and a fungus Aspergilus niger. It was found that the mixtures of various forms exhibit a synergistic effect, and the silver form with additives of copper and zinc forms is most active against staphylococcus, and against other microorganisms, mixtures of copper and zinc forms are most effective.

This research is an analysis of quality control process on paper production on the soft roll production process of Bel Papyrus Ltd located in Ogba, Lagos State, Nigeria. The research was done with the aim of determining the conformity of the industry’s product to quality standard, identifying and eliminating the possible causes of variation in their production process, with reference to Percentage Elongation. The researchers used primary data in form of periodic laboratory test result done on soft rolls.Data presentations were made using simple statistical tools like Mean, Ranges, Standard Deviations, and Tables reflecting the primary data obtained at equal interval of production. The researchers made use of variable control charts for the purpose of analysis. The

The problem of utilizing and processing cellulose and mineral fibrous waste contained in sludge obtained following mechanical treatment of wastewater from the production of paper and cardboard from recyclable materials is analyzed. A technology for producing a cellulose-mineral sorbent from this type of waste to mitigate emergency spills of oil and oil products is described. It is shown that an affordable, fast-acting and convenient sorbent can be produced from these wastes, having sufficient sorption capacity and the ability to retain oil products. The contaminated material can be safely and economically reclaimed or destroyed following use. Mechanisms for activating sorption properties, along with the composition, properties, and options for practical application of the sorbent, are considered.

Currently, most of the collected waste medium-density fiberboards (MDF) is incinerated or landfilled, as economically viable recycling methods are yet to be developed. By steam refining waste medium-density fiberboards (MDF), it is possible to hydrolyze the incorporated resins and isolate a high yield fiber fraction. Further refining of the steam treated fibers might enable the fibers to be utilized in applications such as paper packaging, facilitating a cascading use of the waste material stream. To this end, intimate knowledge of the material is needed. In this study, the steam refined fibers of two waste MDF samples containing differing amounts of softwood and hardwood underwent refining and beating. The resulting fibers were characterized regarding their morphology and paper test sheets were produced to evaluate their strength (compression-, tensile- and tear-strength). Distinct differences in response to refining between the MDF samples were apparent. For the sample with the higher hardwood share an increase in strength properties with increasing steam treatment severities could be observed and it was possible to produce test sheets with comparable compression strength to recycled pulp for industrial corrugated paperboard. For the sample with a higher share of softwood, the steam treatment severity did not show any influence on fiber morphology or paper properties, and the resulting paper strength was low in comparison to the other steam refined waste MDF sample. Graphic Abstract

The growth of pulp and paper industries has encouraged the expansion of the industrial plantation forests for pulp wood. The exotic species planted for pulp wood initially maintained a relatively high productivity, however it decreases in the following rotation cycles. The peat land wood species of Sumatera could be an alternative for exotic species. However, the insufficient information on the wood properties has brought about they are less considered. This paper examined the fiber quality of Sumatran local peat-wood and its possibility as a raw material of pulp and paper. For specific gravity, samples were selected based on three different diameter groups in each plot. Fiber properties (dimension and fiber derivative values) used to asses the suitability of the wood for pulp and paper raw material were determined in accordance with the method of the Forest Product Laboratory (FPL). The resulted data and information were compared to those of krasikarpa (Acacia crassicarpa Benth.). The results showed that the fiber quality of sekubung wood was classified into grade II, while gerunggang and mahang putih were classified into grade III. The specific gravity of gerunggang wood was higher than these of other woods and comparable to that of krasikarpa. Although the growth of Sumatran local peat-wood is still low, however, conformity with government regulations (Government Regulation Number 57-2016 and Ministry of Environment and Forestry Regulation Number 17-2017) and fiber quality, the local peat-wood could potentially substitute the exotic wood species.

The kapok (Ceibapentandra (L.) Gaertn) seed fibre is unicellular with length up to 35 mm, however, it is covered by a hydrophobic waxy layer that limits its application in paper production. In this study, the effect of various pulping methods namely mechanical, chemi-mechanical, semichemical and chemical pulping on kapok fibre properties was investigated. Each kapok pulp was then blended with the secondary fibre recovered from kraftliner board for handsheet making to examine their reinforcing ability on strength properties. The results showed that kapok mechanical pulps (with and without dewaxing (5% (v/v) diluted detergent) and chemimechanical pulp were unable to improve the strength properties of the handsheet. Kapok pulps chemically treated with 18–25% of sodium hydroxide gave a better effect on handsheet strength properties whilst fibre treated with 20% sodium hydroxide showing the highest increment. Although the reinforcing effect of the 4% native cooked starch was slightly higher than that of the 10% kapok pulp blended in recycled paper, the recycling potential of the latter was better as all strength properties retained unchanged after recycling. The findings indicated that kapok chemical pulp is a promising reinforcing fibre source with superior recycling potential.