Analyzing components of barrier coatings in different fractions during a repulping process.

During paper manufacturing, coating and adhesives are added to paper and cardboard to improve quality and durability. When the paper is later recycled or becoming new paper, the coatings may pollute the water used in the recycling process. Thus, it is important to know in which fraction these coatings finish during the process. In this study, laboratory made samples that mimic the repulping and paper making process is used. The different fractions of the processes were analyzed for a clay as well as a polymer coating. Metal content from clay coating is analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and microwave plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. For analyzing polymer coating, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used. From the result of the analysis the Reject sample, which was collected with a bigger mesh sieve in a repulping system, contained the highest amount of both clay and polymer coating. The other sample fractions from the repulping process and paper making process, did not contain as high mass content of either clay nor polymer coating.