Valorization of Corn Stalk by the Production of Cellulose Nanofibers to Improve Recycled Paper Properties

Abstract

Corn stalk, an agricultural waste, was valorized by the production of cellullose nanofibers (CNF), which were tested for impriving recycled paper properties. CNF from eucalyptus kraft pulp (E-CNF) was used as a reference. Addition of 0,5%wt. CNF produced from organosolv pulp (C-CNF) to recycled paper increased the tensile index by 20%, whereas the same improvement with E-CNF was achieved at 1.5%wt. Tensile index was further enhanced by increasinmg the E-CNF, whereas C-CNF achieved its maximum effect at this dose. Different recycled furnishes studied. The tensile index improvement caused by C-CNF did not depend on the proportions of old newspaper and old magazine paper used. Addition of C-CNF to recycled corrugated board fluting increased the tensile srenght, but to a slightly lower extent than in the case of recycled newsprint paper