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Potassium monopersulfate (KMPS) was used in repulping of polyamide-epichlorohydrin (PAE)-containing paper towel. The effectiveness of the repulping aid was compared with that of sodium hypochlorite. Addition of a 2.4% KMPS repulping aid achieved complete repulping of the paper towel, resulting in 88% screen yield and about 5% rejects. To reach a similar pulping result, two times the oxidative equivalent amount of sodium hypochlorite had to be used. Compared to the pulp fibers obtained from sodium hypochlorite repulping, those obtained from KMPS repulping had higher physical strength, longer fiber length, and lower fines content. This study demonstrated that KMPS was superior to sodium hypochlorite in repulping of PAE-containing paper towel in terms of effectiveness and pulp quality.

This study provides a quantitative and qualitative review of life cycle analyses of alternative fibers for paper production. Alternative fibers include both virgin fibers from rapidly renewable sources (hemp, flax, Arundo donax, bamboo, kenaf) and agricultural residues (wheat straw and bagasse). A comparison is made with conventional wood fibers, including northern and southern softwood and eucalyptus, and with recycled fiber. The evaluation characterizes the major environmental impacts of alternative fibers that have been identified in previous studies. The assessment of the literature indicates that a substantial portion of the environmental impacts of paper products is associated with the pulping and paper‐making processes across all fiber types. Alternative fibers may have somewhat different pulping impacts, although the differences are generally not large in the overall impacts of the life cycle.

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