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Technology to apply suspensions of starch grains to the wet surface of paper, during the dewatering process, is reviewed. Though the technology is not new, it continues to attract the attention of papermakers as a means to increase bonding strength. Starch grains that are sprayed onto the wet-web of paper can be retained at levels exceeding what can be effectively added to the fiber suspension at the wet end. Unlike adding a starch solution at a size press, no additional drying capacity is required on the paper machine. To be effective, the starch needs to be able to swell and develop bonding during the paper drying process. Paperboard applications with recycled fibers appear to be a good fit. There is potential to increase bonding by processes that favor fuller gelatinization of the starch grains by the time the paper becomes dry.

The aim of this work is to obtain better water resistance properties with additives to starch at the size press. A further goal is to replace petroleum-based additives with environmentally friendly hydrophobic agents obtained by derivatization of wood rosin. A crude wood rosin (CWR) sample was methylated and analyzed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Methyl abietate, dehydroabietic acid, and abietic acid were the main constituents of the sample. The crude wood rosin samples were fortified with fumaric acid and then esterified with pentaerythritol. Fortified and esterified wood rosin samples were dissolved in ethanol and emulsified with cationic starch to make them suitable as hydrophobic additives for surface treatment formulations in mixtures with starch. These hydrophobic agents (2% on a dry weight basis in a cationic starch solution) were applied to paperboard, bleached kraft paper, and test liner paper using a rod coater with a target pickup of 3-5 gsm. The solution pickup was controlled by varying the rod number. The amounts of hydrophobic material applied in the preparation of the paper samples were 32.2, 48.6, and 35.1 lb/ton pickup compared to three types of base papers. Basic surface features of fortified and fortified and esterified rosin-treated paper were compared with base paper and paper treated with starch alone. Lower Cobb(60) values were obtained for fortified and esterified samples than for linerboard samples that had been surface-sized just by starch. Thus, as novel hydrophobic additive agents, derivatives of CWR can be a green way to increase hydrophobicity while reducing starch consumption in papermaking.

Plasticizers depress the glass transition temperature (Tg) of polymers and produce a flowable material at lower temperatures. The use of plasticizers to depress Tg of lignin is important, since at high processing temperatures lignin crosslinks, making it intractable. The goal of this study was to assess plasticizers and polymer blends for the ability to retard a commercial softwood kraft lignin from crosslinking and also serve as thermal and rheological property modifiers during thermal processing in the attempt to produced moldable and spinnable lignin for lignin and carbon fiber products. The Tg of the lignin and the lignin mixed with various amounts of plasticizers and with different thermo-mechanical mixing were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The Tg and the change in heat capacity at the glass transition (ΔCp) decreased and increased, respectively, about linearly within this plasticizers range with increased plasticizer weight percentage. Gel permeation chromatography results for extruded lignin as well as extruded lignin-plasticizer blends with glycerol, N-allyurea, citric acid with and without sodium hypophosphite, and oleic acid indicate that the presence of these materials reduced the rate of molecular weight increase at temperatures between 100 and 200 °C. Continuous, homogenous films and fibers could be produced by thermal processing with plasticized lignin samples and plasticized lignin-polymer blends, but not with lignin alone. These fibers could be carbonized, yielding up to about 50% of carbon. The present findings have shown the advantages of plasticizers in thermally processing a commercial softwood kraft lignin.

Society’s wish list for future packaging systems is placing some daunting challenges upon researchers: In addition to protecting contents during storage and shipping, the material must not bio-accumulate, and it should be readily recyclable by using practical processing steps. This article considers strategies employing bio-based plastics and reviews published information relative to their performance. Though bioplastics such as poly(lactic acid) (PLA) and poly(hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) can be prepared from plant materials, their default properties are generally inferior to those of popular synthetic plastics. In addition, some bioplastics are not easily decomposed in soil or seawater, and the polymers can undergo chemical breakdown during recycling. This review considers strategies to overcome such challenges, including the use of biodegradable cellulose-based reinforcing particles. In addition to contributing to strength, the cellulose can swell the bioplastic, allowing enzymatic attack. The rate-controlling step in bioplastic degradation also can be abiotic, i.e. not involving enzymes. Though there is much more work to be done, much progress has been achieved in formulating bioplastic composites that are biodegradable, recyclable, and higher in strength compared to the neat polymer. Emphasis in this review is placed on PLA and PHB, but not to the exclusion of other bioplastic matrix materials.

This article reviews publications with the goal of understanding the role of hydrophobic copolymers added to size-press starch as a means to make paper products more resistant to penetration by aqueous fluids. The underlying technology is considered, including background related to starch, size-press equipment, and various hydrophobic copolymers and latex products that have been evaluated. The resulting hydrophobization of the paper has been reported to depend not only on the dosage of the hydrophobic additive, but also on its molecular mass and ionic form. The mechanism appears to rely on an ability of starch to serve as a temporary host for hydrophobic compounds in aqueous solution. It has been proposed that hydrophobic copolymers added with size press starch tend to migrate to the air interface during drying of the starch film, thus allowing the low-energy functional groups, such as styrene or alkyl chains, to face outwards. Further research is needed to address various mechanistic questions. There may be opportunities to further raise the performance of this type of technology as practiced within paper production factories.

The influence of metal ions, Ca 2 + {\mathrm{Ca}^{2+}} and Mg 2 + {\mathrm{Mg}^{2+}} , on wood pitch retention at pH 8 was studied by investigating the pitch content of TMP-papers using both short- and long-column gas chromatography (GC). The effects of two different drying methods, air-drying and freeze-drying, on pitch retention were also compared in this work. The pitch emulsion was prepared with fatty acids, resin acids, and triglycerides at a certain ratio to simulate the pitch composition in closed water system in paper mill. At increasing pH, some of the resin and fatty acids will dissolve into the water phase as metal soaps. In this work, the retention of colloidal pitch in TMP-papers by metal ions at pH 8 was determined. The amount of 5 mM metal ions was found to retain more pitch. The tensile index decreased by the addition of metal ions, and the decrease became more pronounced as the increase of the metal ions concentration. Besides, the hydrophobicity of handsheets was found being changed only a little, which might because the morphology and pitch retained on the surface both affected the hydrophobicity.

Three copies of a book that had been optionally deacidified using two different procedures in 1967, and then subjected to accelerated aging, were tested again after 52 years of natural aging. Matched copies of the book Cooking the Greek Way, which had been printed in Czechoslovakia on acidic paper, were evaluated. Nonaqueous treatment of two of the copies with magnesium methoxide dissolved in chlorofluorocarbon solvent had been found in 1967 to have decreased the susceptibility to embrittlement, as evidenced by the results of the accelerated aging, followed by folding endurance tests. Retesting of the same books in 2019, after 52 years of room temperature storage, showed that the deacidification treatments had achieved the following benefits in comparison to the untreated book: (a) higher brightness; (b) higher folding endurance; (c) tensile breaking length higher in the cross-direction of the paper; (d) substantial alkaline reserve content, (e) an alkaline surface pH in the range 7.1–7.4, and (f) higher molecular mass of the cellulose. Remarkably, some of the folding endurance results matched those of unaged samples evaluated in 1967. Scanning electron micrographs showed no differences between the treated and untreated books.

Ordinary rosin sizing agents are mixtures of resin acids that include abietic acid and related com-pounds obtained from softwoods such as pine. Fatty acids, which are another byproduct of the kraft pulping of soft-wood species, also may have hydrophobic effects, but their use as sizing agents has seldom been considered. In the current study, abietic acid and oleic acid, in the absence of other components, were first modified by reaction with maleic acid anhydride. Then, the maleated derivatives (maleated oleic acid [MOA] and maleated abietic acid [MAA]), which were emulsified with cationic starch at the 1:1 and 3:2 ratio, respectively, were added to fiber furnish containing aluminum sulfate (papermaker’s alum). The prepared sheets were dried with a rotating drum on one side at 100°C at low pressure to cure the sizing agents. The chemical, optical strength, and absorption properties were measured. The presence of the sizing material was confirmed using time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and the retention of the sizing agent on fibers was supported by evidence of hydrocarbons on the paper surface. In addition to achieving sufficient water resistance features with MAA, a lesser hydrophobic character was obtained when using MOA. Compared to commercial applications, relatively large amounts of sizing agent were used to obtain a sufficient sizing degree. The MOA required 5% addition to achieve a similar sizing degree as MAA at the 2% level. The sizing treatments also resulted in substantial increases in tensile index value. Since cationic starch was used in the formulation of the sizing agents, the increase in tensile index may have been due to the influence of cationic starch. Contributions to paper strength from a combination of ionic complexation and mutual association of hydrophobic groups is also proposed. Depending on the amount of sizing agent, the yellowness increased, especial-ly when sizing with MOA.

Based on publications related to the use of micro- and nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) in papermaking applications, three sets of parameters (intrinsic and extrinsic variables, furnish composition, and degree of dispersion) were proposed. This holistic approach intends to facilitate understanding and manipulation of the main factors describing the colloidal behavior in systems comprising of MNFC, pulp fibers, and additives, which directly impact paper product performance. A preliminary techno-economic assessment showed that cost reductions driven by the addition of MNFC in paper furnishes could be as high as USD 149 per ton of fiber (up to 20% fiber reduction without adverse effects on paper’s strength) depending on the cost of papermaking fibers. It was also determined that better performance in terms of strength development associated with a higher degree of MNFC fibrillation offset its high manufacturing cost. However, there is a limit from which additional fibrillation does not seem to contribute to further strength gains that can justify the increasing production cost. Further research is needed regarding raw materials, degree of fibrillation, and combination with polyelectrolytes to further explore the potential of MNFC for the reduction of weight of paper products.

This review article considers published evidence regarding effects of particle size on mechanical properties of plastic matrix materials filled with cellulose-based reinforcements. Cellulosic or wood-based reinforcements in plastic matrices can contribute to higher modulus, lower density, and less tendency to sag in comparison with the matrix phase by itself, while still allowing the resulting material to be cut or milled. Although cellulosic materials are generally too hydrophilic to adhere well to common thermoplastic materials such as polyethylene, such deficiencies can be overcome by use of compatibilizers, e.g. polyethylene-maleic anhydride. Recently many researchers have evaluated nanocellulose in plastic composites. The higher surface areas of nanocellulose generally imply a higher cost of compatibilizer to achieve good interfacial adhesion. This review first examines results of a large number of studies all involving high-density polyethylene as the matrix. Then, to get a more detailed mechanistic view, studies are considered that compare different particle sizes of cellulose-based reinforcements within the same conditions of preparation of composites prepared with various matrix polymers. To summarize the findings, there does not appear to be any consistent and dependable advantage of using nano-sized cellulosic reinforcements when trying to achieve higher values of composite strength or modulus.

This review article considers the role of fatty acids and the mutual association of their long-chain (e.g. C18) alkyl and alkenyl groups in some important aspects of papermaking. In particular, published findings suggest that interactions involving fatty acids present as condensed monolayer films can play a controlling role in pitch deposition problems. Self-association among the tails of fatty acids and their soaps also helps to explain some puzzling aspects of hydrophobic sizing of paper. When fatty acids and their soaps are present as monolayers in papermaking systems, the pH values associated with their dissociation, i.e. their pKa values, tend to be strongly shifted. Mutual association also appears to favor non-equilibrium multilayer structures that are tacky and insoluble, possibly serving as a nucleus for deposition of wood extractives, such, as resins and triglyceride fats, in pulp and paper systems.

Conventional rheological tests can be difficult to carry out in the case of suspensions of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC). Such suspensions tend to migrate away from the walls of a rheometer device, leaving a low-viscosity layer. The very high aspect ratio of typical nanofibrillated cellulose particles favors formation of tangled clusters. But application of hydrodynamic shear can cause fragmentation of those clusters. It is proposed in this essay that some focus be placed on the fragments of entangled clusters of NFC and interactions between them at their fractured surfaces. The condition of near-uniform, defect-free structures of nanocellulose spanning the volume within a sheared suspension might be regarded as an unlikely circumstance. Isaac Newton started with a very simple equation to start to understand rheology. It is proposed that a similarly bold and simplified approach may be needed to account for the effects of broken entangled clusters of NFC on flow phenomena, their assessment, and their consequences related to industrial processes.

Strategic combinations of cellulosic materials with electrically conductive polymers or nanoconductors offer important potential advantages for technological advances, light-weight inexpensive products, applications of novel form factors, and more eco-friendly alternatives to certain forms of smart packaging and electronics. This review of the literature focuses on how such electrically conductive composite systems work, the roles that cellulosic materials can provide in such structures, processes by which electrically-conductive cellulose-based composites and films can be manufactured, and various potential applications that have been demonstrated. Several advantages of cellulose, such as ease of fabrication, compatibility with conductive agents, and sustainability, allow its integration with conductive agents in making conductive composites. Applications of electrically conducting cellulose-based composites for strain sensors, energy storage, solar cells, electrodes, supercapacitors, and smart packaging are discussed.

The rheological and dewatering behavior of an aqueous pigmented coating system not only affects the machine runnability but also affects the product quality. The current study describes the use of natural hydrocolloids derived from citrus peel fibers as a rheology modifier in paper coating applications. The results were compared with carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) in a typical paper coating system. Water retention of the coating formulation was increased by 56% with citrus peel fibers compared to a default coating, and it also was higher than a CMCcontaining coating. The Brookfield viscosity of paper coatings was found to increase with citrus peel fibers. Compared to CMC, different citrus peel fibers containing coating recipes were able to achieve similar or higher water retention values, with no change or a slight increase in viscosity. Coatings were applied on linerboard using the Mayer rod-coating method, and all basic properties of paper were measured to assess the impact of citrus peel fiber on the functional value of the coatings. Paper properties were improved with coated paper containing citrus peel fibers, including brightness, porosity, smoothness, surface bonding strength, and ink absorption.

Numerous dyes and fluorescent compounds, as reported in the literature, exhibit specificity in the staining of materials associated with lignocellulosic fibers and their chemical components, including cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin. Such effects long have provided analysts with convenient ways to identify cellulosic fiber types, products of different pulping methods, degrees of mechanical refining, estimates of accessibility to enzymes, and localization of chemical components within microscopic sections of cellulosic material. Analytical staining procedures allow for the facile estimation or quantification using simple methods such as light microscopy or UV-vis spectroscopy. More recent developments related to confocal laser micrometry, using fluorescent probes, has opened new dimensions in staining technology. The present review seeks to answer whether the affinity of certain colored compounds to certain cellulose-related domains can improve our understanding of those stained materials – either in terms of their fine-scale porous structure or their ability to accommodate certain colored compounds having suitable solubility characteristics. It is proposed here that successful staining ought to be viewed as being a three-dimensional phenomenon that depends on both the physical dimensions of the colored compounds and also on functional groups that influence their interactions with different components of lignocellulosic materials. Published information about the mechanisms of staining action as well as characteristics of different stain types is reviewed.

Biochar produced at an oxidative atmosphere shows distinct chemical properties compared to those of biochar produced at an inert atmosphere. However, there has been little investigation on the relationship between the oxidative atmosphere and the structure development of biochar, which can be useful information for the utilization of derived products. In this study, the effect of the oxygen atmosphere on the structure development of loblolly pine-derived biochar during thermal treatment was investigated. Quantitative analysis using solid-state direct polarization/magic angle spinning 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy presented the existence of large fractions of aromatic and non-protonated carbons in the biochars treated at an oxidative atmosphere, implying highly condensed aromatic structures with large cluster sizes. Simultaneous thermogravimetic analyzer-differential scanning calorimetry was employed to demonstrate the difference in heat flow during the thermal treatment at two different atmospheres. Relatively large exothermic heat flow was observed when woody biomass was treated at 350 °C under an oxidative atmosphere which might be responsible for the difference in structural alteration. The series of observations suggested that compared to inert atmospheric conditions, admitting a limited amount of oxygen during thermal treatment of woody biomass could promote the evolution of condensed aromatic carbon structures.

The separation of lignin from the black liquor generated during alkaline pulping is reviewed in this article with an emphasis on chemistry. Based on published accounts, the precipitation of lignin from spent pulping liquor by addition of acids can be understood based on dissociation equilibria of weak acid groups, which affects the solubility behavior of lignin-related chemical species. Solubility issues also govern lignin separation technologies based on ultrafiltration membranes; reduction in membrane permeability is often affected by conditions leading to decreased solubility of lignin decomposition products and the presence of colloidal matter. Advances in understanding of such phenomena have potential to enable higher-value uses of black liquor components, including biorefinery options, alternative ways to recover the chemicals used to cook pulp, and debottlenecking of kraft recovery processes.

Cellulose nanomaterials (CNMs), mainly including nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), have attained enormous interest due to their sustainability, biodegradability, biocompatibility, nanoscale dimensions, large surface area, facile modification of surface chemistry, as well as unique optical, mechanical, and rheological performance. One of the most fascinating properties of CNMs is their aqueous suspension rheology, i.e., CNMs helping create viscous suspensions with the formation of percolation networks and chemical interactions (e.g., van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction/repulsion, and hydrophobic attraction). Under continuous shearing, CNMs in an aqueous suspension can align along the flow direction, producing shear-thinning behavior. At rest, CNM suspensions regain some of their initial structure immediately, allowing rapid recovery of rheological properties. These unique flow features enable CNMs to serve as rheological modifiers in a wide range of fluid-based applications. Herein, the dependence of the rheology of CNM suspensions on test protocols, CNM inherent properties, suspension environments, and postprocessing is systematically described. A critical overview of the recent progress on fluid applications of CNMs as rheology modifiers in some emerging industrial sectors is presented as well. Future perspectives in the field are outlined to guide further research and development in using CNMs as the next generation rheological modifiers.

Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) were modified by surface grafting with silane and polyacrylate without disturbing the material morphologies. The modified CNCs exhibited improved hydrophobicity and th...

Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) treated with cationic starch was evaluated as a bonding system to permit lower degrees of refining and lower apparent density of high-mass handsheets made from bleached kraft pulp. Mixed pulp (70% hardwood, 30% softwood) was formed into sheets with the optional addition of 5% by dry mass of NFC. The default addition of NFC was compared with a system in which the NFC had been pretreated either with cationic starch (at various levels) or optionally followed by colloidal silica. Comparative tests also were carried out with separate addition of cationic starch to the main furnish. Unrefined fibers (514 mL CSF) were compared with low-refined (473 mL CSF) and high-refined (283 mL CSF) pulp mixtures. The NFC that had been pretreated with cationic starch at a high level was especially effective at boosting the tensile strength and stiffness of sheets prepared from pulp that had been refined at a low level, thus achieving improved strength at relatively low apparent density (high bulk) of the handsheets. The results support a strategy, for applicable grades of paper, of using cationic starchpretreated NFC in place of refining energy applied to the main fiber furnish. It was further established that colloidal silica can be employed as a further pretreatment of the cationic starch–treated NFC as a means of promoting dewatering in the combined system.

A sustainable packaging system with excellent liquid- and gas-barrier properties and enhanced strength properties was highlighted by a composite coating containing a mixture of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), a high-aspect ratio nano-filler montmorillonite clay, an amphiphilic binder soy protein, and a surface-active agent alkyl ketene dimer. They were tested on various surfaces of commercially available packaging papers and compared with the appropriate control (i.e., CNC-only coating) to determine surface morphology, chemical composition, barrier, and mechanical properties. Scanning electron microscopy image analysis showed a compact matrix whose defects (cracks) were significantly attenuated compared to the control while FTIR showed fewer exposed hydroxyl (–OH) groups. The compact structure and reduced proportion of –OH groups are attributed to the plate-like structure, high aspect ratio of clay, and uniform distribution of additives to help inhibit gas, moisture, water, oil, and grease permeation. The base paper used also had a significant impact on how coatings interacted with various fluids. Overall, sustainable CNC-composite barrier coatings with relatively low-cost additives were fabricated and showed improved barrier and strength characteristics with a strong potential as barrier coatings for packaging.

According to published studies, certain nonaqueous solution-based treatments can be highly effective for prolonging the useful lives of bound volumes, within which the paper had been formed under acidic papermaking conditions. Such treatments, which typically use reactive alkoxide-based organometallic compounds dissolved in low-surface-tension liquids, have been shown to decrease the tendency of the paper to become brittle during long storage or during accelerated aging. This article reviews published evidence concerning the underlying mechanisms of such treatments. Evidence suggests that dissolved alkoxides and related carbonated alkoxide-based compounds are able to react directly with acidic species within acidic paper during treatment of books. Such reactions help explain the demonstrated effectiveness of nonaqueous solution-based deacidification treatments.

Three unsaturated fatty acids, namely 9-cis,12- cis -linoleic acid, 1,2,3-tri-cis, cis -9,12-octadecadienoyl (glycerol trilinolein) and 1,2,3-tri- cis -9-octadecenoyl (triolein) were selected as models of components of plant extractives to monitor the hydroperoxygenation induced by soybean lipoxygenase (LOX), which was applied as an oxidative catalyst at room temperature. The fatty acids were monitored in colloidal dispersions in relation to their molecular changes using 1 H/ 13 C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and UV spectroscopies. The detection of the hydroperoxy group was limited due to its unstable nature. However, the reduction of protons associated with the diene groups and the substitution of hydroperoxy groups at the allylic positon in conjugated lipids were detected by the induced chemical shift of HOO-bearing 13 C and 1 H resonances and the oxygen absorption owing to changes in the molecule. Moreover, compared to the two other substrates, no oxygen substitution was observed in triolein, in accordance with its lower level of saturation and the absence of bis-allylic carbon. Our results are of relevance to plant fiber processing, since fatty acids are major constituents of hydrophobic deposits that cause a range of manufacturing challenges.

A surface-modified form of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) was employed to explore mechanisms related to the release of water from cellulosic fiber suspensions during papermaking. The CNC surface was rendered partly cationic (forming CCNC) by adsorption of poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (poly-DADMAC), a high charge density cationic polymer. Meanwhile, a suspension of cellulosic fibers and calcium carbonate particles was prepared from recycled copy paper, which was treated sequentially with poly-DADMAC and a very-high-mass anionic acrylamide copolymer (aPAM). Subsequent addition of CCNC strongly promoted water release, whereas ordinary CNC had the opposite effect. The effect of the CCNC was achieved with ten times less poly-DADMAC, as the final additive, compared to when adding the polymer alone. Results were consistent with a model of nanoparticle-enabled bridging, based on an assumption of non-equilibrium or slowly equilibrating processes of adsorption.

This review article was prompted by a remarkable growth in the number of scientific publications dealing with the use of nanocellulose (especially nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), and bacterial cellulose (BC)) to enhance the barrier properties and other performance attributes of new generations of packaging products. Recent research has confirmed and extended what is known about oxygen barrier and water vapor transmission performance, strength properties, and the susceptibility of nanocellulose-based films and coatings to the presence of humidity or moisture. Recent research also points to various promising strategies to prepare ecologically-friendly packaging materials, taking advantage of nanocellulose-based layers, to compete in an arena that has long been dominated by synthetic plastics. Some promising approaches entail usage of multiple layers of different materials or additives such as waxes, high-aspect ratio nano-clays, and surface-active compounds in addition to the nanocellulose material. While various high-end applications may be achieved by chemical derivatization or grafting of the nanocellulose, the current trends in research suggest that high-volume implementation will likely incorporate water-based formulations, which may include water-based dispersions or emulsions, depending on the end-uses.

Hydrophobic contaminants (stickies) incorporated with recycled fibers cause severe papermaking processing and product quality problems, which lead to low runnability and increased production cost. Stickies negatively affect paper strength and many other properties. In this work, we propose a sustainable approach by the application of soy protein isolate (SPI), soy flour (SF), and soybean lipoxygenase (LOX) as agents to combat hydrophobic contaminants. Tests at the bench and pilot-plant scales and under conditions similar to industrial operations demonstrated the reduction of associated challenges and the improvement of a paper’s dry strength. The soy agents were applied to aqueous dispersions of lignin-free recycled fibers (dosage levels of 1–2% based on the fiber dry weight), which contained additives typically used in papermaking (fillers, sizing agent, and others). Talc, a common detackifier, was applied in similar systems that were used as reference. The proteins were added under both high and low she...

The review aims at reporting on recent developments in nanocellulose-based materials and their applications in packaging with special focus on oxygen and water vapor barrier characteristics. Nanocellulose materials, including cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), and bacterial nanocellulose (BNC), have unique properties with the potential to dramatically impact many commercial markets including packaging. In addition to being derived from a renewable resource that is both biodegradable and non-toxic, nanocellulose exhibits extremely high surface area and crystallinity and has tunable surface chemistry. These features give nanocellulose materials great potential to sustainably enhance oxygen and water vapor barrier properties when used as coating, fillers in composites and as self-standing thin films.

The flow characteristics of dilute aqueous suspensions of cellulose nanocrystals (CNC), nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC), and related products in dilute aqueous suspensions could be of great importance for many emerging applications. This review article considers publications dealing with the rheology of nanocellulose aqueous suspensions in the absence of matrix materials. In other words, the focus is on systems in which the cellulosic particles themselves – dependent on their morphology and the interactive forces between them – largely govern the observed rheological effects. Substantial progress in understanding rheological phenomena is evident in the large volume of recent publications dealing with such issues including the effects of flow history, stratification of solid and fluid layers during testing, entanglement of nanocellulose particles, and the variation of inter-particle forces by changing the pH or salt concentrations, among other factors. Better quantification of particle shape and particle-to-particle interactions may provide advances in future understanding. Despite the very complex morphology of highly fibrillated cellulosic nanomaterials, progress is being made in understanding their rheology, which supports their usage in applications such as coating, thickening, and 3D printing.

The purpose of a barrier layer or film in a packaging product is to slow down or essentially eliminate the progress of oxygen, water vapor, or other molecules, thereby extending the shelf life, safety, and maybe also the taste of products—especially in the case of foods. This chapter discusses progress in the preparation of barrier composite films that include nanopolysaccharides, such as nanochitin, nanostarch, and nanocellulose. The reviewed research shows that these eco-friendly components in the resulting films often can improve barrier properties. While nanocellulose has attracted more research attention, nanostarch particles can be prepared under less aggressive chemical conditions, and particles related to chitin might possibly be preferred when one of the goals is to achieve antimicrobial effects. Nanopolysaccharides are also likely to find future applications in barrier films containing montmorillonite clay (nanoclay) and in multi-layer barrier film systems.

Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) has been widely used by manufacturers of paper and paperboard as a hydrophobic sizing agent. Ordinary sizing with AKD involves a complex series of processes, including emulsification of the waxy AKD material; measures to avoid the agglomeration of the emulsified AKD particles; addition of a stabilized AKD dispersion to papermaking furnish; interactions with various retention aid chemicals to fix the material onto solid surfaces; and various spreading and curing processes that take place during the drying and cooling of the paper product. In the present work, as a means to gain insight into the mechanisms attributable only to the AKD in isolation from the other additives and subprocesses, the AKD wax was dissolved in heptane and applied to filter paper between two aluminum foil layers, followed by evaporation of the solvent and optional heating. Surprisingly, hydrophobic character was obtained regardless of whether or not the treated sheets had been heat cured. Also, for the first time, it was observed that the AKD treatment resulted in a substantial increase in sheet strength, suggesting that the AKD was able to serve as the matrix in an AKD-saturated paper structure. The results add support to past suggestions in the literature that potential covalent interactions cannot account for all of the effects attributable to AKD treatment of paper.

A heightened need to control the spread of infectious diseases prompted the current work in which functionalized and innovative antimicrobial tissue paper was developed with a hydrophobic spray-coating of chitosan (Ch) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) composite. It was hypothesized that the hydrophobic nature of chitosan could be counterbalanced by the addition of CNC to maintain fiber formation and water absorbency. Light-weight tissue handsheets were prepared, spray-coated with Ch, CNC, and their composite coating (ChCNC), and tested for antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and a microbial sample from a human hand after using the rest room. Water absorption and strength properties were also analyzed. To activate the surface of cationized tissue paper, an oxygen/helium gas atmospheric plasma treatment was employed on the best performing antimicrobial tissue papers. The highest bactericidal activity was observed with ChCNC-coated tissue paper, inhibiting up to 98% microbial growth. Plasma treatment further improved the antimicrobial activity of the coatings. Water absorption properties were reduced with Ch but increased with CNC. This "self-disinfecting" bactericidal tissue has the potential to be one of the most innovative products for the hygiene industry because it can dry, clean, and resist the infection of surfaces simultaneously, providing significant societal benefits.

After the kraft or soda pulping of lignocellulosic materials to produce pulp suitable for papermaking, the spent pulping liquor typically has been recovered by multi-effect evaporation, followed by incineration in a recovery boiler. This review article considers one unit operation, eutectic freeze crystallization (EFC), that may have potential to save some of the energy that is presently consumed in the evaporation step during recovery of inorganic chemicals from spent pulping liquor. Based on a review of the literature it appears that EFC can be employed to obtain relatively pure sodium sulfate and sodium carbonate, along with relatively pure water (in the form of ice) from the spent liquor, under the assumption that lignin previously has been removed by acidification and precipitation. Issues of inorganic scale formation, during the operation of an EFC process applied to lignin-free black liquor, will require research attention. The chemical reactions to regenerate the active pulping chemicals sodium hydroxide and sodium sulfide from sodium carbonate, sodium sulfate, and other compounds isolated by EFC can be carried out either in a separate operation or by returning the materials to the feed of an existing recovery boiler.

Cellulose derivatives such as cellulose nanofibers (CNF) and cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) have enormous potential to reduce or replace petroleum and fluorochemicals for food and other packaging applications. CNFs have been studied for their excellent oxygen and gas barrier properties; however, their performance rapidly decreases in the presence of moisture and higher humidity. CNCs are less sensitive to moisture due to their highly crystalline nature; however, coatings and films made of CNCs are much more prone to fracture due to their high brittleness. Our work demonstrates a unique composite barrier coating system of CNF and CNC that synergistically enables oil and grease resistance (a kit rating of 11) comparable to fluorochemicals. It also demonstrates a significant increase in air resistance (∼by a factor of about 300), and a reduction in oxygen transmission rate (∼by a factor of about 260) compared to uncoated paper. The improvements in oil and gas barrier properties were evaluated with respect to the molecular, chemical, and structural properties of the developed coatings.

Layer-by-layer (LbL) treated recycled fibers were investigated in mixtures with refined pulp relative to the mechanical properties of paper. The LbL treatments were conducted to assemble consecutive cationic and anionic starch layers on the fibers of old corrugated container (OCC) pulp. Fibers zeta potential was measured to examine the success of LbL treatment. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to reveal the differences between treated and untreated fibers surface and network. Subsequently, the LbL-treated fibers were added to the refined OCC pulps. Optimization of paper (60 ± 3 g m-2 basis weight) strength properties including: tensile index, Scott bond (internal bonding), and ring crush test (RCT) was carried out by response surface methodology (RSM). The meaningful change of zeta potential substantiated cationic/anionic starch layers construction. The AFM results showed that the surface of fibers were covered with starch, which was consistent with deposition of polyelectrolyte multi-layers (PEMs). The surfaces of the LbL-treated fibers were rough in comparison with untreated fibers. The optimization of mechanical parameters using RSM indicated that refining time significantly affected the paper’s mechanical properties. The property values of 44.5 N.m/g tensile index, 149 J/m2 Scott bond, 32 mN RCT, and 245% strain at break were achieved at optimal conditions of 16 min refining time and the addition ratio of 17.6% LbL treated pulp respectively.

Major libraries have been placing increasing reliance upon non-aqueous mass deacidification in an effort to avoid hydrolytic decomposition of the cellulose during storage of bound volumes. Such decomposition is especially a problem when the printing papers used in manufacture of the books have been prepared under acidic conditions, using aluminum sulfate. But there is reason to doubt that the widely used non-aqueous treatments, in which “alkaline reserve” particles are deposited in the void spaces of the paper, can achieve neutralization of acidity throughout the paper structure under the conditions most commonly used for treatment and storage. Anecdotal evidence suggests that alkaline particles such as CaCO3, MgO, Mg(OH)2, or ZnO can be present for long periods of time adjacent to acidic parts of cellulosic fibers without neutralization of the acidity, especially the acidity within the fibers. If these phenomena can be better understood, then there may be an opportunity to use a high-humidity treatment of certain “deacidified” books in order to achieve more pervasive protection against acid-induced degradation.

The capacity of fine particles to remain clustered together after being agglomerated by polyelectrolytes plays an important role in papermaking and in the treatment of wastewater. Tests were carried out with agglomerated suspensions of calcium carbonate and primary cellulosic fines in neutral buffer solution. Agglomeration was induced either by a high-charge cationic polyelectrolyte (a coagulant) or by sequential treatment with a coagulant and a very high-mass anionic acrylamide copolymer (a flocculant). Particle size analysis, based on diffraction of laser light, showed that the coagulated suspensions were susceptible to being redispersed by hydrodynamic shear. By contrast, flocculated suspensions were only partly broken up. In a flocculated mixture of CaCO3 and cellulosic fines, only the cellulosic fines could be separated from each other. The intensity of shear was more critical than its duration. Conventional shear stress was more effective for the breakup of the polyelectrolyte-induced agglomerates v...

Deacidification refers to chemical treatments meant to slow down the acid hydrolysis and embrittlement of books and paper documents that had been printed on acidic paper. From the early 1800s up to about 1990, papermakers used aluminum sulfate, an acidic compound, in most printing papers. Certain deacidification methods use non-aqueous media to distribute alkaline mineral particles such as MgO within the pages of the treated books. Evidence is considered here as to whether or not the proximity of alkaline particles within such documents is sufficient to neutralize the acidic species present. Because much evidence suggests incomplete neutralization, a second focus concerns what to do next in cases where books already have been treated with a non-aqueous dispersion system. Based on the literature, the neutralization of acidic species within such paper can be completed by partial moistening, by high humidity and pressure, by water condensation, as well as by optional treatments to enhance paper strength and a final drying step.

In this research, the effect of bentonite micro-particles on the performance of chitosan as a new additive system for improving the dry strengths of acidic papermaking was studied. Chitosan, an abundant carbohydrate biopolymer, in 4 dosages (0, 0.75, 1.25 and 2% based on dry weight of pulp) was applied with bentonite in 4 dosages (0, 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9% based on oven-dry weight of pulp). Although the addition of chitosan up to 0.75% (without bentonite) improved tensile index and burst index, but the addition of more chitosan decreased all mechanical properties in comparison with the control sample. The application of bentonite in combination with chitosan had a significant impact on chitosan performance in mechanical properties. The best results were obtained with 0.3% bentonite consumption. Visual formation ranking had a proper correlation with this obtained results. The micro-kjeldahl indirectly confirmed chitosan retention in the treated paper with chitosan/bentonite.

Alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) is a widely used paper sizing agent that is applied in the form of oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions in order to impart a water-resistant character to the resulting paper. To obtain stable o/w emulsions of ASA, laponite, a highly hydrophilic synthetic clay, was selected as the stabilizer after it had been modified with tetramethylammonium chloride (TMAC), a quaternary ammonium salt with the shortest possible hydrocarbon groups. It was found that the TMAC moderately neutralized the negative charges of laponite particles, lowered the apparent viscosity, but enhanced the turbidity of laponite aqueous dispersion by enhancing the hydrophobicity of the laponite particles, favoring adsorption of laponite particles on the ASA–water interface. Meanwhile, the TMAC significantly decreased the interfacial tension between ASA and water/aqueous laponite dispersion, promoting the formation of an emulsion with small droplets. When the added amount of TMAC reached 1 wt% based on laponite, the as-prepared ASA emulsion had small droplet size, low viscosity and uniform droplet size distribution, and exhibited good creaming/coalescence stability. By using TMAC to modify laponite nanoparticles, the hydrolysis stability and sizing performance of ASA emulsion were also improved.

Oat β-D glucan was treated with 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl-trimethyl ammonium chloride (10%, 20%, 30%, or 50% of beta glucan) to obtain a range of cationic β-D glucan samples. The derivatization was confirmed by the results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) tests and elemental analysis. Addition of 1% cationic β-D glucan based on the mass of unbleached pine kraft fiber increased burst, tensile, and folding endurance properties of the resulting paper. Similar effects were observed at pH 5 and pH 8.5, showing that the system can be considered robust relative to typical acidic and alkaline papermaking conditions. The strength benefits were also observed in recycled sheets made by reslurrying paper prepared with cationic β-D glucan, even when the initial drying conditions had been severe. The beneficial results of cationization, which can be explained by a more hydrophilic nature and better retention, hold promise as a means of improving the strength properties of virgin paper. The treatment of the initial paper also can enhance the dry-strength performance when the fibers are recovered and used again.

Alkenylsuccinic anhydride (ASA) is commonly applied as oil-in-water (o/w) emulsions in the papermaking industry. Herein Laponite mineral nanoparticles were employed as a stabilizer of the ASA emulsions after being modified with melamine just before emulsion preparation. The emulsion was prepared by homogenizing the mixture of ASA and melamine-modified Laponite aqueous dispersion. The modification of melamine on the Laponite was characterized by infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction, whereas the impacts of the modification on the morphology, wettability and ζ-potential of the Laponite, as well as the interfacial tension between ASA and Laponite aqueous dispersion, were also analyzed. It is found that the adsorption of melamine on Laponite particles neither causes the aggregation nor significantly changes the charge properties of the Laponite particles. However, the adsorption of melamine can significantly increase the wettability of Laponite by the ASA liquid, and adequately lower the apparent interf...

Mutual agglomeration involving contrasting types of particles can be expected to play a major role during the formation of paper. The present work employed laser diffraction particle size analysis, as well as microscopy, to characterize the state of agglomeration between cellulosic fines and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) particles. Primary fines from bleached hardwood kraft pulp were compared with fines collected from the same pulp after mechanical refining. Various ratios of cellulose to PCC were studied. Results were consistent with a process of heteroagglomeration occurring mainly between the PCC and slender cellulosic fibrils associated with the cellulosic fine particles. Adhesive attachments were formed between the PCC and cellulosic surfaces in spite of their having the same sign of zeta potential.

An enhanced bonding agent for papermaking was prepared by selective oxidation of a hemicellulose-rich byproduct of oat processing, which will be identified here by its primary component, β- d -glucan. The β- d -glucan was treated sequentially with (2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO) and sodium hypochlorite, or alternatively just with sodium hydroxide. When added to a slurry of unbleached softwood kraft fibers, in combination with an optimal dosage of aluminum sulfate, the oxidized β- d -glucan yielded greater increases in tensile strength and folding endurance in comparison to untreated β- d -glucan. NaOH treatment also improved dry-strength performance of the β- d -glucan, except for folding endurance. The improvements were attributed to increased charge density of the treated polyelectrolytes, leading to better distribution and retention on fibers prior to sheet formation. Modified β- d -glucan also enhanced the strength of recycled sheets when the treated paper was repulped and formed into recycled paper with no further chemical addition.

Hemicellulose material is an abundant and relatively under-utilized polymeric material present in lignocellulosic materials. In this research, an alkaline treatment was applied to pinewood (PW), switchgrass (SG), and coastal bermuda grass (CBG) in order to extract hemicelluloses to subsequently produce a novel biosorbent. Alkaline extraction at 75 °C recovered 23% of the biomass as a predominantly hemicellulose material with a number average degree of polymerization of ∼450. These hemicelluloses were grafted with penetic acid (diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid, DTPA) and were then cross-linked to chitosan. The effects of hemicellulose–DTPA concentration, reaction time, and temperature of reaction with chitosan on the resulting salt (sodium chloride, NaCl) uptake and weight loss in saline solutions were determined. A maximum salt uptake for the materials was ∼0.30 g/g of foam biosorbent. The foam biosorbent was characterized by FT-IR spectra, porosity, and dynamic mechanical analysis. Batch adsorption e...

International audience; Hemicelluloses, due to their hydrophilic nature, may tend to be overlooked as a component in water-resistant product applications. However, their domains of use can be greatly expanded by chemical derivatization. Research in which hydrophobic derivatives of hemicelluloses or combinations of hemicelluloses with hydrophobic materials are used with to prepare films and composites is considered herein. Isolation methods that have been used to separate hemicellulose from biomass are also reviewed. Finally, the most useful pathways to change the hydrophilic character of hemicelluloses to hydrophobic are reviewed. In this way, the water resistance can be increased and applications of targeted water-resistant hemicellulose developed. Several applications of these materials are discussed.

Soybean proteins have found uses in different nonfood applications due to their interesting properties. We report on the kinetics and extent of adsorption on silica and cellulose surfaces of glycinin and β-conglycinin, the main proteins present in soy. Quartz crystal microgravimetry (QCM) experiments indicate that soy protein adsorption is strongly affected by changes in the physicochemical environment. The affinity of glycinin and the mass adsorbed on silica and cellulose increases (by ca. 13 and 89%, respectively) with solution ionic strength (as it increases from 0 to 100 mM NaCl) due to screening of electrostatic interactions. In contrast, β-conglycinin adsorbs on the same substrates to a lower extent and the addition of electrolyte reduces adsorption (by 25 and 57%, respectively). The addition of 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol, a denaturing agent, reduces the adsorption of both proteins with a significant effect for glycinin. This observation is explained by the cleavage of disulfide bonds which allows unfolding of the molecules and promotes dissociation into subunits that favors more compact adsorbed layer structures. In addition, adsorption of glycinin onto cellulose decreases with lowering the pH from neutral to pH 3 due to dissociation of the macromolecules, resulting in flatter adsorbed layers. The respective adsorption isotherms fit a Langmuir model and QCM shifts in energy dissipation and frequency reveal multiple-step kinetic processes indicative of changes in adlayer structure.