Development of Nano-Ligno-Cellulose Produced from Mechanical Pulp

Sinke Henshaw Osong PhD Student

Department of Chemical Engineering

Mid Sweden University

Supervisors : Prof. Per Engstrand Dr. Sven Norgren

EFPRO – CEPI 3rd Early Stage Researchers Workshop, 25-27 Nov 2014, EU Thon Hotel in Brussels

11/28/2014 1

background : “FORE” : a multi-product mechanical pulping mill

2 11/28/2014

Fore: New products in

Existing mechanical pulping process

New renewable materials

tomorrow’s forest biorefinery

3 11/28/2014

The forest products industry is in a phase of shifting its focus towards the direction of biorefinery.

Processing of Nanocellulose

Applications of nanocellulose High Volume

stream:

Cement Automotive body

Automotive interior Packaging coatings

Paper filler Packaging filler

Plastic film

replacement

Hygiene & absorbent products

Low volume stream:

Insulation

Paint-architectural

Aerospace Structure

Aerospace interior

Aerogels

Novel & Emerging applications

Sensors –medical

Water filtration Rheological modifier

Cosmetics Organic LED

Flexible electronics Photovoltaics

Recyclable electronics

Photonic films

Application & Market Potential

types of nanocellulose

7 11/28/2014

“ rice-like” = short & stiff

“spaghetti-like” = long & flexible

Pääkkö et al. (2007): Biomacromolecules, 8(6), 1934-1941.

NCC

MFC

NCC MFC

Pulps Thermo-mechanical pulp (TMP). Chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP). Bleached kraft pulp (BKP) as reference.

11/28/2014 8

Process

11/28/2014 9

CRILL

1g dry solid content of NLC was used in all investigations.

rapid köthen sheet former

Rapid Köthen Sheet Former, the handsheets were pressed at 96kPa and dried under restrained conditions at 93oC for 10 mins

11/28/2014 11

results & discussion

11/28/2014 12

SEM Images : TMP-BJ30-R

TMP-NLC-A18

TEM : CTMP-NLC

crill characterisation: part 1

16 11/28/2014

Experimental NaOH/H2O2 chemical Pre-treatment dosage. The Wing Mill refiner in this project was used as a mixer. 150g oven-dried pulp was used. Pulp consistency of 18-20% .

crill: part 2

nanocellulose as strength additive Nanocellulose improves the strength properties in sheets. The tensile stiffness and similar structural properties are enhance due to improve bonding in the sheet.

still on strength properties

Page, D.H. Tappi 52(4), 674 (1969)

strength properties It was reported by Lindström, Fellers, Ankerfors, & Glad-Nordmark (2014) that apart from the well-known paper strength theories by Page (1969) which include: the fibre strength and fibre-fibre bond strength. There are other factors that contribute to paper strength improvement and these include; sheet structural features (such as formation and fibre kinks) and residual stresses on different structural levels (such as micro-compression in fibre bonding zones, free pore volume and z-direction gradients). This therefore means that both MFC and chemical strength additives tend to act as consolidation agent during sheet formation, thereby improving the relative bonded area in the sheet.

NLC as a strength additive in paper : Z-Strength Vs Sheet density

11/28/2014 22

air permeability Vs NLC/NC content,(%)

11/28/2014 23

conclusions It was possible to produce NLC from mechanical pulp. In this work the fibrillation process was solely based on mechanical approach without the use of chemical (TEMPO) or enzymatic pre-treatment.

Results showed that the crill value correlated with homogenisation time. Crill data presented in this work indicates that the fibrillation efficiency is good enough after the first 20 minutes of homogenisation. MFC additions to pulp furnish enhances the strength but at the same time increases sheet density and impair dewatering. The mechanism of MFC with pulp fibres could probably be due to the fact that the MFC decreased the meniscus radius of the sheet during water evaporation and thereby giving higher compressive forces between fibres. Also, MFC improves the bridging between fibres, thereby also improving the relative bonded area of the sheet

11/28/2014 24

acknowledgements Financers: • European Union • Mid Sweden University • County Administrative Board of Västernorrland Supervision: Prof. Per Engstrand Dr. Sven Norgren

11/28/2014 25

THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION

11/28/2014 26