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Cellulose nanofibrils with a three-dimensional interpenetrating network structure for recycled paper enhancement

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Abstract

The mechanical strength degradation of recycled paper (RP) caused by the keratinization of recycled fibers is a basic problem to be solved urgently in the waste paper recycling industry. Compensating RP strength in a sustainable pathway is imperative and challenging. Cellulose nanofibrils with a three-dimensional interpenetrating network structure (3DIPN-CNFs) developed as a new family of strength additives for RP were demonstrated herein. The 3DIPN-CNFs were obtained from bagasse in a single bath treatment with H3PO4 and H2O2 under mild aqueous conditions. The tensile index and tear index of the RP with 3DIPN-CNFs were increased by 78% and 39%, respectively. 3DIPN-CNFs are less expensive and easier to obtain than Isolated-CNFs because homogenizing mechanical treatment is not required and are expected to become a sustainable strength additive for RP.

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Acknowledgments

This project was sponsored by research funds from Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (2017GXNSFAA198220 and 2018GXNSFAA294074). The authors are grateful for the financial support from the Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control.

Funding

Funding

The study was performed within the Guangxi Natural Science Foundation (project #2017GXNSFAA198220 and #2018GXNSFAA294074), and funded by the Guangxi Science and Technology Department.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Light Industrial and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China

    Jinlong Wang, Yiting Wu, Wei Chen, Haiqi Wang, Tengteng Dong, Feitian Bai & Xusheng Li

  2. Guangxi Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp and Papermaking and Pollution Control, Nanning, 530004, Guangxi, China

    Jinlong Wang, Yiting Wu, Wei Chen, Haiqi Wang, Tengteng Dong, Feitian Bai & Xusheng Li

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  1. Jinlong Wang
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  2. Yiting Wu
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  3. Wei Chen
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Correspondence to Xusheng Li.

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Wang, J., Wu, Y., Chen, W. et al. Cellulose nanofibrils with a three-dimensional interpenetrating network structure for recycled paper enhancement. Cellulose 29, 3773–3785 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10570-022-04496-8

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