Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries

Addition and retention of cellulose nanofibers to wet paper web without the use of retention aids and reduction of water drainage rate

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Mohammadhadi Moradian 1
Mozhgan Fathi Imanloo 2
Pejman Rezayati Charani 3
1 Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology
2 Graduated Master of pulp and paper technology, Department of cellulose technology engineering, natural resources faculty, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia university of technology, Behbahan
3 Associate Prof., Department of Cellulose Technology Engineering, Natural Resources Faculty, Behbahan Khatam Alanbia University of Technology, Behbahan, Iran
10.22034/ijwp.2024.2042838.1684
Abstract
Problem definition and objectives: Cellulose nanofibers (CNF) have primarily been utilized in papermaking to enhance both the dry and wet strengths of paper. This is achieved by adding CNF to the pulp suspension along with a retention aid, as well as by applying it as a coating in the dry end of the paper machine to improve barrier properties. However, incorporating CNF into the pulp can lead to challenges such as reduced dewatering speed, decreased production rates, partial loss of nanoparticles from the paper machine wire, adhesion to equipment, and increased drying energy consumption. This research investigates the addition of CNF to both the surface and middle layers of the wet paper web at varying pulp consistencies to address these issues.
Methodology: Initially, 2% CNF was added to a bagasse pulp suspension, and the drainage time, along with the rate of CNF exit from the papermaking wire, was assessed at different temperatures (5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 degrees Celsius). Subsequently, the feasibility of adding CNF to the surface of the wet paper web and between two layers of the web—without any retention aids—was examined at the laboratory level. For this purpose, 1% and 2% CNF were sprayed onto the surface of the web at four levels of web consistency (5%, 10%, 20%, and 35%) using a device manufactured in the university's pulp and paper laboratory. The goal was to produce papers with a final grammage of 80 ± 2 g/m². During the spraying process, some CNFs adhered to laboratory blotter papers, raising concerns that similar sticking could occur in industrial settings with felt press or drying cylinders. To mitigate this issue, spraying 1% and 2% CNF between two web layers (each with a grammage of 40 ± 1 g/m²) at a consistency of 20% was performed. During the spraying phase, the vacuum was applied for two minutes from beneath the laboratory paper-making mesh for all treatments, ensuring complete CNF retention.
Results: The findings indicated that as temperature increased from 5 to 45 degrees Celsius, drainage time decreased by 30%, while CNF exit from the papermaking wire rose from 20% to 41%. Overall, the addition of cellulose nanofibers reduced paper thickness, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images confirmed enhanced bonding between fiber layers and greater compressibility in multilayer paper. However, higher web consistencies resulted in decreased CNF penetration into the thickness of the paper, leading to less impact on the fibers in lower layers and, consequently, less reduction in final paper thickness. Treatments involving spraying CNF on the surface and middle of the pulp web yielded greater tensile strength compared to adding the same amount of CNF directly to the pulp suspension. Nevertheless, no statistically significant difference was observed in the tear index in all treatments. Notably, spraying 2% CNF between two layers of the web at a 20% consistency produced the highest tensile index among all treatments.
Conclusion: The method of spraying cellulose nanofibers onto the surface of pulp webs with consistencies exceeding 10% can eliminate CNF loss without requiring additional retention aids and does not adversely affect drainage speed. Furthermore, adding CNF between two web layers at approximately 20% consistency ensures complete retention without compromising dewatering speed or production rates while preventing adhesion to papermaking equipment and enhancing mechanical properties. Therefore, this approach is suitable for industrial units capable of producing multilayer papers.
Keywords
Cellulose nanofibers (CNF)
Coating
Wet paper web
Bagasse pulp
Paper tensile strength
Retention

Subjects

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Iranian Journal of Wood and Paper Industries
Volume 16, Issue 1
Winter 2025
Pages 29-42