Study on the modification of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp using birch xylan

• Published in: Carbohydrate polymers Vol. 88; no. 2; pp. 719 - 725
• Main Authors: Han, Wenjia, Zhao, Chuanshan, Elder, Thomas, Chen, Kefu, Yang, Rendang, Kim, Dongho, Pu, Yunqiao, Hsieh, Jeffery, Ragauskas, Arthur J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 02.04.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: absorption; adsorption; Applied sciences; atomic force microscopy; Betula; Birch xylan; chlorine; Deposition; energy; Eucalyptus; Eucalyptus pulp; Exact sciences and technology; filtration; kraft pulp; Mechanical properties; mixing; Morphology; Paper, paperboard, non wovens; physical properties; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Pulp manufacturing; slurries; Wood. Paper. Non wovens; xylan; Eucalyptus pulp; Mechanical properties; Birch xylan; Morphology; Deposition; Liquid solid adsorption; Paper pulp; Xylan; Surface topography; Experimental study; Oside polymer; Paper; Modified material
• ISSN: 0144-8617; 1879-1344
• DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2012.01.025

► Birch xylan was deposited on cellulosic Eucalyptus fibers. ► Absorbed xylan resulted in physical strength enhancements for paper. ► Benefits were observed for never dried and dried fibers. In this study, birch xylan was deposited onto elementally chlorine free (ECF) bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp, and the corresponding changes in physical properties were determined. An aqueous 5% birch xylan solution at pH 9 was added to 5wt% slurry of bleached kraft eucalyptus fibers, with stirring at 70°C for 15min after which the pH was adjusted to 5–6. The xylan enriched fibers were isolated by filtration and used for physical testing. A 1.15wt% adsorption of birch xylan on the kraft fibers at 8% xylan addition increased the tensile index, strain and tensile energy absorption values by ∼10%, while the burst index increased by 20.15%. The tear index increased by 2.55% with the adsorption of 0.87wt% birch xylan on the eucalyptus kraft pulp at 3% xylan addition. The pulp beatability was also improved by adding birch xylan. The surface morphology of the unmodified and modified pulp samples were analyzed using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in the tapping mode. The analysis revealed the differences in the fine structure of fibers which showed micrometer-sized xylan structures spreading over the fiber surfaces.