Abstract
An industry compatible chemo-refining approach was tested for preparation of micro-nanofibrillated cellulose (MNFC) from bleached softwood pulp using sodium meta-periodate and sodium chlorite as oxidizers followed by refining in Valley beater. SEM and FTIR analyses confirmed micro-nano scale fibrillation and chemical functional group modification in laboratory prepared MNFC, respectively. The water retention value, carboxyl content and viscosity of MNFC were found comparable with imported NFC as reference (R-NFC). To evaluate MNFC as strength enhancer for paper properties, 5% MNFC addition to bleached mixed hardwood pulp showed 6% reduction in bulk with 36%, 24% and 97% increment in breaking length, burst index and double fold of the handsheets, respectively without affecting tear index and optical properties than the control. Surface properties were also improved. Pulp drainability (37°SR) after MNFC addition was found suitable for papermaking. These laboratory results confirmed the potential of MNFC as a suitable strength additive for paper quality improvement.
Graphic abstract
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Afra E, Yousefi H, Hadilam MM, Nishino T (2013) Comparative effect of mechanical beating and nanofibrillation of cellulose on paper properties made from bagasse and softwood pulps. Carbohydr Polym 97(2):725–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2013.05.032
Atic C, İmamoğlu S, Valchev I (2005) Determination of specific beating energy-applied on certain pulps in a valley beater. J Univ Chem Technol Metall 40(3):199–202
Aulin C, Gallstedt M, Lindstrom T (2010) Oxygen and oil barrier properties of microfibrillated cellulose films and coatings. Cellulose 17(3):559–574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-009-9393-y
Balea A, Merayo N, Fuente E, Delgado-Aguilar M, Mutje P, Blanco A, Negro C (2016) Valorization of cornstalk by the production of cellulose nanofibers to improve recycled paper properties. BioResources 11:3416–3431
Besbes I, Alila S, Boufi S (2011) Nanofibrillated cellulose from TEMPO-oxidized eucalyptus fibres: effect of the carboxyl content. Carbohydr Polym 84(3):975–983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2010.12.052
Bhardwaj S, Bhardwaj NK, Negi YS (2020) Effect of degree of deacetylation of chitosan on its performance as surface application chemical for paper-based packaging. Cellulose 27(9):5337–5352. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-020-03134-5(0123456789
Biermann CJ (1996) Handbook of pul** and papermaking. Academic Press, San Diego
Bilodeau M, Bousfield D, Luu W, Richmond F, Paradis M (2012) Potential applications of nanofibrillated cellulose in printing and writing papers. In TAPPI international conference on nanotechnology for renewable materials. June 5–7, Montreal, QC
Boufi S, Gonzalez I, Delgado-Aguilar M, Tarres Q, PèlachMÀ MP (2016) Nanofibrillated cellulose as an additive in papermaking process: a review. Carbohydr Polym 154:151–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.07.117
Brodin FW, Gregersen ØW, Syverud K (2014) Cellulose nanofibrils: Challenges and possibilities as a paper additive or coating material—a review. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 29(1):156–166. https://doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2014-29-01-p156-166
Charani PR, Dehghani-Firouzabadi M, Afra E, Blademo Å, Naderi A, Lindström T (2013) Production of microfibrillated cellulose from unbleached kraft pulp of Kenaf and Scotch Pine and its effect on the properties of hardwood kraft: microfibrillated cellulose paper. Cellulose 20(5):2559–2567. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9998-z
Chauhan A, Kumari A, Ghosh UK (2013) Blending impact of softwood pulp with hardwood pulp on different paper properties. Tappsa J 2:16–20
Chen Y, Geng B, Ru J, Tong C, Liu H, Chen J (2017) Comparative characteristics of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers and resulting nanopapers from bamboo, softwood, and hardwood pulps. Cellulose 24(11):4831–4844. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1478-4
Colson J, Bauer W, Mayr M, Fischer W, Gindl-Altmutter W (2016) Morphology and rheology of cellulose nanofibrils derived from mixtures of pulp fibres and papermaking fines. Cellulose 23(4):2439–2448. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-0987-x
Coseri S, Biliuta G, Zemljič LF, Srndovic JS, Larsson PT, Strnad S, Kreže T, Naderi A, Lindström T (2015) One-shot carboxylation of microcrystalline cellulose in the presence of nitroxyl radicals and sodium periodate. RSC Adv 5(104):85889–85897. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5RA16183E
Eriksen Ø, Syverud K, Gregersen Ø (2008) The use of microfibrillated cellulose produced from kraft pulp as strength enhancer in TMP paper. Nord Pulp Pap Res J 23(3):299–304. https://doi.org/10.3183/npprj-2008-23-03-p299-304
Errokh A, Magnin A, Putaux JL, Boufi S (2018) Morphology of the nanocellulose produced by periodate oxidation and reductive treatment of cellulose fibers. Cellulose 25(7):3899–3911. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1871-7
Espinosa E, Rol F, Bras J, Rodríguez A (2019) Production of lignocellulose nanofibers from wheat straw by different fibrillation methods. Comparison of its viability in cardboard recycling process. J Cleaner Prod 239:118083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.118083
Frone AN, Panaitescu DM, Donescu D (2011) Some aspects concerning the isolation of cellulose micro-and nano-fibers. UPB Bul Stiintific Ser B Chem Mater Sci 73(2):133–152. https://doi.org/10.1002/pc.21116
González I, Vilaseca F, Alcalá M, Pèlach MA, Boufi S, Mutjé P (2013) Effect of the combination of biobeating and NFC on the physico-mechanical properties of paper. Cellulose 20(3):1425–1435. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-013-9927-1
Gu F, Wang W, Cai Z, Xue F, ** Y, Zhu JY (2018) Water retention value for characterizing fibrillation degree of cellulosic fibers at micro and nanometer scales. Cellulose 25(5):2861–2871. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-018-1765-8
Hassan EA, Hassan ML, Oksman K (2011) Improving bagasse pulp paper sheet properties with microfibrillated cellulose isolated from xylanase-treated bagasse. Wood Fiber Sci 43(1):76–82. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-010-4992-4
Hassanzadeh M, Sabo R, Rudie A, Reiner R, Gleisner R, Oporto GS (2017) Nanofibrillated cellulose from Appalachian hardwoods logging residues as template for antimicrobial copper. J Nanomater 2017:1–14. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2102987
He M, Cho BU, Yong KL, Won JM (2016) Utilizing cellulose nanofibril as an eco-friendly flocculant for filler flocculation in papermaking. BioResource 11(4):10296–10313. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.11.4.10296-10313
He M, Yang G, Cho BU, Lee YK, Won JM (2017) Effects of addition method and fibrillation degree of cellulose nanofibrils on furnish drainability and paper properties. Cellulose 24(12):5657–5669. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1495-3
Hietala M, Ämmälä A, Silvennoinen J, Liimatainen H (2016) Fluting medium strengthened by periodate–chlorite oxidized nanofibrillated celluloses. Cellulose 23(1):427–437. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0801-1
Hollertz R, Duran VL, Larsson PA, Wagberg L (2017) Chemically modified cellulose micro-and nanofibrils as paper-strength additives. Cellulose 24(9):3883–3899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1387-6
Isogai A, Saito T, Fukuzumi H (2011) TEMPO-oxidized cellulose nanofibers. Nanoscale 3(1):71–85. https://doi.org/10.1039/c0nr00583e
Jaturapiree A, Ehrhardt A, Groner S, Öztürk HB, Siroka B, Bechtold T (2008) Treatment in swelling solutions modifying cellulose fiber reactivity—Part 1: accessibility and Sorption. Macromol Symp 262(1):39–49
Kalia S, Boufi S, Celli A, Kango S (2014) Nanofibrillated cellulose: surface modification and potential applications. Colloid Polym Sci 292(1):5–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00396-013-3112-9
Kang T, Paulapuro H (2006) Effect of external fibrillation on paper strength. Pulp Pap Canada 107:51–54. https://doi.org/10.2524/jtappij.60.1202
Karande VS, Bharimalla AK, Hadge GB, Mhaske ST, Vigneshwaran N (2011) Nanofibrillation of cotton fibers by disc refiner and its characterization. Fibers Polym 2(3):399–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-011-0399-3
Kekalainen K, Liimatainen H, Niinimaki J (2014) Disintegration of periodate–chlorite oxidized hardwood pulp fibres to cellulose microfibrils: kinetics and charge threshold. Cellulose 21(5):3691–3700. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-014-0363-7
Kerekes RJ (2005) Characterizing refining action in PFI mills. Tappi J 4(3):9–14
Khalil HA, Bhat AH, Yusra AI (2012) Green composites from sustainable cellulose nanofibrils: a review. Carbohydr Polym 87(2):963–979. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2011.08.078
Kumar A, Singh SP, Singh AK (2016) Comparative study of cellulose nanofiber blending effect on properties of paper made from bleached bagasse, hardwood and softwood pulps. Cellulose 23(4):2663–2675. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-016-0954-6
Kumar V, Pathak P, Bhardwaj NK (2020) Waste paper: an underutilized but promising source for nanocellulose mining. Waste Manage 102:281–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wasman.2019.10.041
Lahtinen P, Liukkonen S, Pere J, Sneck A, Kangas H (2014) A comparative study of fibrillated fibers from different mechanical and chemical pulps. BioResources 9(2):2115–2127. https://doi.org/10.15376/biores.9.2.2115-2127
Lavoine N, Desloges I, Dufresne A, Bras J (2012) Microfibrillated cellulose—its barrier properties and applications in cellulosic materials: a review. Carbohydr Polym 90(2):735–764. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.05.026
Liimatainen H, Visanko M, Sirviö JA, Hormi OE, Niinimaki J (2012) Enhancement of the nanofibrillation of wood cellulose through sequential periodate–chlorite oxidation. Biomacromol 13(5):1592–1597. https://doi.org/10.1021/bm300319m
Luo XL, Zhu JY, Gleisner R, Zhan HY (2011) Effects of wet-pressing-induced fiber hornification on enzymatic saccharification of lignocelluloses. Cellulose 18(4):1055–1062. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9541-z
Martelli-Tosi M, Torricillas MDS, Martins MA, Assis OBGD, Tapia-Blácido DR (2016) Using commercial enzymes to produce cellulose nanofibers from soybean straw. J Nanomater 2016:1–10. https://doi.org/10.1155/2016/8106814
Mayr M, Eckhart R, Winter H, Bauer W (2017) A novel approach to determining the contribution of the fiber and fines fraction to the water retention value (WRV) of chemical and mechanical pulps. Cellulose 24(7):3029–3036. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1298-6
Meng Q, Fu S, Lucia LA (2016) The role of heteropolysaccharides in develo** oxidized cellulose nanofibrils. Carbohydr Polym 144:187–195. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carbpol.2016.02.058
Mishra SP, Manent AS, Chabot B, Daneault C (2011) Production of nanocellulose from native cellulose—various options utilizing ultrasound. BioResources 7(1):422–436
Nechyporchuk O, Belgacem MN, Bras J (2016) Production of cellulose nanofibrils: a review of recent advances. Ind Crops Prod 93:2–25. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.02.016
Onyianta AJ, Dorris M, Williams RL (2018) Aqueous morpholine pre-treatment in cellulose nanofibril (CNF) production: comparison with carboxymethylation and TEMPO oxidisation pre-treatment methods. Cellulose 25(2):1047–1064. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1631-0
Osong SH, Norgren S, Engstrand P (2016) Processing of wood-based microfibrillated cellulose and nanofibrillated cellulose, and applications relating to papermaking: a review. Cellulose 23(1):93–123. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0798-5
Puangsin B, Soeta H, Saito T, Isogai A (2017) Characterization of cellulose nanofibrils prepared by direct TEMPO-mediated oxidation of hemp bast. Cellulose 24(9):3767–3775. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-017-1390-y
Rantanen J, Dimic-Misic K, Kuusisto J, Maloney TC (2015) The effect of micro and nanofibrillated cellulose water uptake on high filler content composite paper properties and furnish dewatering. Cellulose 22(6):4003–4015. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0777-x
Santucci BS, Bras J, Belgacem MN, da Silva Curvelo AA, Pimenta MTB (2016) Evaluation of the effects of chemical composition and refining treatments on the properties of nanofibrillated cellulose films from sugarcane bagasse. Ind Crops Prod 91:238–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2016.07.017
Spence KL, Venditti RA, Rojas OJ, Habibi Y, Pawlak JJ (2010) The effect of chemical composition on microfibrillar cellulose films from wood pulps: water interactions and physical properties for packaging applications. Cellulose 17(4):835–848. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-010-9424-8
Spence KL, Venditti RA, Rojas OJ, Habibi Y, Pawlak JJ (2011) A comparative study of energy consumption and physical properties of microfibrillated cellulose produced by different processing methods. Cellulose 18:1097–1111. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-011-9533-z
Taipale T, Osterberg M, Nykanen A, Ruokolainen J, Laine J (2010) Effect of microfibrillated cellulose and fines on the drainage of kraft pulp suspension and paper strength. Cellulose 17(5):1005–1020. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-010-9431-9
TAPPI Test Methods (2011) Tappi Press, Atlanta
Tejado A, Alam MN, Antal M, Yang H, van de Ven TG (2012) Energy requirements for the disintegration of cellulose fibers into cellulose nanofibers. Cellulose 19(3):831–842. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9694-4
Tian C, Yi J, Wu Y, Wu Q, Qing Y, Wang L (2016) Preparation of highly charged cellulose nanofibrils using high-pressure homogenization coupled with strong acid hydrolysis pretreatments. Carbohydr Polym 136:485–492
Tonoli GHD, Holtman KM, Glenn G, Fonseca AS, Wood D, Williams T, Sa VA, Torres L, Klamczynski A, Orts WJ (2016) Properties of cellulose micro/nanofibers obtained from eucalyptus pulp fiber treated with anaerobic digestate and high shear mixing. Cellulose 23(2):1239–1256
Tripathi S, Alam I, Bhardwaj NK (2017) Effect of blending banana stem and hardwood pulps on sizing, ash retention, physical strength and optical properties of paper. Appita Technol Innova Manuf Environ 70(4):378
Wang B, Sain M, Oksman K (2007) Study of structural morphology of hemp fiber from the micro to the nanoscale. Appl Compos Mater 14(2):89. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10443-006-9032-9
Wang QQ, Zhu JY, Gleisner R, Kuster TA, Baxa U, McNeil SE (2012) Morphological development of cellulose fibrils of a bleached eucalyptus pulp by mechanical fibrillation. Cellulose 19(5):1631–1643. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-012-9745-x
Yang H, Chen D, van de Ven TGM (2015) Preparation and characterization of sterically stabilized nanocrystalline cellulose obtained by periodate oxidation of cellulose fibers. Cellulose 22:1743–1752. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-015-0584-4
Yano H, Sugiyama J, Nakagaito AN, Nogi M, Matsuura T, Hikita M, Handa K (2005) Optically transparent composites reinforced with networks of bacterial nanofibers. Adv Mater 17:153. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.200400597
Yousefi H, Faezipour M, Hedjazi S, Mousavi MM, Azusa Y, Heidari AH (2013) Comparative study of paper and nanopaper properties prepared from bacterial cellulose nanofibers and fibers/ground cellulose nanofibers of canola straw. Ind Crops Prod 43:732–737. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.indcrop.2012.08.030
Yuan Z, Wei W, Wen Y (2019) Improving the production of nanofibrillated cellulose from bamboo pulp by the combined cellulase and refining treatment. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 94(7):2178–2186. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.5998
Acknowledgements
Authors are thankful to Mr. R. Varadhan (Director, ACIRD) for his support and valuable suggestions throughout the work.
Funding
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kumar, V., Pathak, P. & Bhardwaj, N.K. Micro-nanofibrillated cellulose preparation from bleached softwood pulp using chemo-refining approach and its evaluation as strength enhancer for paper properties. Appl Nanosci 11, 101–115 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01575-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13204-020-01575-9