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. 2022 Aug 14;14(16):3309.
doi: 10.3390/polym14163309.

Assessment of the Performance of Cationic Cellulose Derivatives as Calcium Carbonate Flocculant for Papermaking

Jorge F S Pedrosa  1 , Luís Alves  1 , Carlos P Neto  2 , Maria G Rasteiro  1 , Paulo J T Ferreira  1
Affiliations

Assessment of the Performance of Cationic Cellulose Derivatives as Calcium Carbonate Flocculant for Papermaking

Jorge F S Pedrosa et al. Polymers (Basel). .

Abstract

Cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) are usually used as filler retention agents in papermaking formulations. However, increasing environmental restrictions and their non-renewable origin have driven research into bio-based alternatives. In this context, cationic lignocellulosic derivatives have been attracting considerable research interest as a potential substitute. In this work, distinct cationic celluloses with degrees of substitution of between 0.02 and 1.06 and with distinct morphological properties were synthesized via the cationization of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp, using a direct cationization with (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) or a two-step cationization, where the cellulose was first oxidized to form dialdehyde cellulose and was then made to react with Girard's reagent T (GT). Fibrillated samples were produced by subjecting some samples to a high-pressure homogenization treatment. The obtained samples were evaluated regarding their potential to flocculate and retain precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), and their performance was compared to that of a commercial CPAM. The cationic fibrillated celluloses, with a degree of substitution of ca. 0.13-0.16, exhibited the highest flocculation performance of all the cationic celluloses and were able to increase the filler retention from 43% (with no retention agent) to ca. 61-62% (with the addition of 20 mg/g of PCC). Although it was not possible to achieve the performance of CPAM (filler retention of 73% with an addition of 1 mg/g of PCC), the results demonstrated the potential of cationic cellulose derivatives for use as bio-based retention agents.

Keywords: calcium carbonate; cationic cellulose; fibrillated cellulose; flocculation; laser diffraction spectrometry; quaternary ammonium.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Schematic representation of cationic celluloses with distinct morphologies.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Example of the log-log plot of scattering light intensity versus q for the determination of the scattering exponent, SE (first region), and the fractal dimension, dF (second region).
Figure 3
Figure 3
The FTIR-ATR spectra of the original BEKP and celluloses cationized with CHPTAC and GT.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Optical microscopy images of the original BEKP and celluloses cationized with CHPTAC and GT (* Residual cellulose fiber fragments).
Figure 5
Figure 5
The median floc size as a function of flocculant dosage (the x-axis corresponds to both the flocculant dosage and the time of flocculation).
Figure 6
Figure 6
Median flocs size as a function of flocculation time for several concentrations of the best flocculants.
Figure 7
Figure 7
Evolution of the scattering exponent (SE) and mass fractal dimension (dF) as a function of flocculation time for several concentrations of the best flocculants.
Figure 8
Figure 8
Drainage time, filler content and filler retention as a function of dosage of the best flocculants.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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