No abstract

No abstract

Cellulose nanofiber (CNF) was used to improve the optical and strength properties of soda bagasse pulp (500 CSF) in the presence of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM). Cationic polyacrylamide was added at 0.05, 0.1, and 0.15%, and cellulose nanofiber was added at 0.1, 0.5, 1, and 2% based on pulp O.D. Laboratory handsheets were prepared (60 g/m 2 ), and optical and strength properties were measured according to TAPPI standards. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy images showed that empty spaces between fibers decreased under CPAM/CNF treatments. The effect of the additives and their addition level on all the measured paper properties was significant at the 99% confidence level. The light scattering coefficient, brightness, and whiteness increased with the addition of cellulose nanofibers, but the light absorption coefficient, yellowness, and opacity decreased. At the highest levels of the additives (2% CNF and 0.15% CPAM), the tensile and burst strengths of handsheets increased by 33% and 15%, respectively. Generally, cellulose nanofibers/cationic polyacrylamide complexes improved the optical and strength properties of bagasse pulp.

No abstract

Effective utilization of fibrous materials plays a major role in techno-economic viability of the resources. Sunflower stalk (SS) as one of highest bio-fibrous waste was assessed respect to fiber features in biorefinery approach. The lumen diameter, wall thickness and fiber length were measured as (∼12 µm), (5.25 µm) and (1.58 mm), respectively. The wider lumen diameter makes its suitable for chemical treatments and purification. The applied Pulping conditions decreased the fiber length and wall thickness, with the least reduction by soda-anthraquinone. Derived indices involved rigidity and flexibility coefficients, aspect and Runkel ratios, solid and Luce’s shape factors were also calculated based on the measured values. The aspect ratio (77.5) put SS fibers as very good resources for lignocellulosic products and composites. The flexibility coefficient (57) belongs to the elastic category and was not altered by pulping. The Runkel ratio was lesser than 1 (>0.9) but decreased by the pulping, to some extent. The Luceʼs shape factor was nearly calculated 0.5, near to the bagasse and eucalyptus species. Solid factor (0.17) and rigidity coefficient (0.51) were considered to be good fiber resource. Totally due to the SS fiber characteristics, the agricultural waste suitability for value adding bio-based production could be reported.