Nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) from eucalyptus sawdust as a dry strength agent of unrefined eucalyptus handsheets

VALLEJOS, M.E.; FELISSIA, F.E.; AREA, M.C.; EHMAN, N.V.; TARRÉS, Q.; MUTJÉ, P.

CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS

ELSEVIER SCI LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2016 vol. 139 p. 99 - 105

0144-8617

Nanofibrillated cellulose has been obtained from the cellulosic fractionof eucalyptus sawdust. The fractionation process involved the partial removalof hemicelluloses and lignin. CNF was obtained using TEMPO oxidation with NaOClin basic medium followed by mechanical homogenization. The obtained CNF wassubsequently used as a dry strength agent on unbleached unrefined eucalyptuspulp. The addition of 3, 6 and 9 wt. % of CNF increased lineally the tensileindex of handsheets to about 55 N m g−1 at 35 °SR, compatible with papermachinerunnability. The other mechanical properties also increased substantially, andporosity decreased moderately. The estimated specific surface and averagediameter of these CNF were 60 m2 g−1, and of 41.0 nm, respectively. The additionof 9 wt. % of CNF produced an increase in mechanical strength, equivalent tothat produced by PFI refining at 1600 revolutions.