Carboxymethylated glucomannan as paper strengthening agent

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Strength additives are crucial for papermaking efficiency.
• Developing sustainable and effective paper strengthening agents is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize and evaluate a new paper strengthening agent based on carboxymethylated glucomannan.
• To investigate the synergistic effects of carboxymethylated glucomannan and polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE) on paper properties.

Main Methods:

• Glucomannan was chemically modified using sodium chloroacetate under alkaline conditions to produce carboxymethylated glucomannan.
• Paper samples were treated with varying concentrations of carboxymethylated glucomannan and PAE.
• Paper properties including density, burst index, tensile index, folding endurance, and wet strength were measured.
• Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze fiber-fiber interactions.

Main Results:

• Carboxymethylated glucomannan significantly improved dry paper properties, with density, burst index, tensile index, and folding endurance increasing by up to 15.2%, 22.8%, 34.6%, and 179.0%, respectively.
• A combination of 0.6% carboxymethylated glucomannan and 0.6% PAE enhanced burst index, dry tensile index, and wet tensile index by 14.1%, 25%, and 34.3%, respectively.
• Increased carboxymethylation time of glucomannan led to higher dry and wet tensile strength.
• SEM analysis indicated enhanced fiber-fiber bonding in treated paper.

Conclusions:

• Carboxymethylated glucomannan is an effective agent for improving dry paper strength.
• Carboxymethylated glucomannan and PAE exhibit a synergistic effect, enhancing both dry and wet paper properties.
• The developed strengthening agent offers a promising approach for the papermaking industry.