Abstract
Adsorption of polymeric flocculants and dry strength agents onto the surface of papermaking fibers is critical for their effective utilization since the polymeric substances not adsorbed on fibers or fines keep recirculating in the papermaking system to cause various operational difficulties and loss of raw materials. Problems associated with the unadsorbed polymeric substances generate great attention because unprecedent interests in utilization of recycled papers and papermaking system closure. In this study, to understand the effects of recycling on the adsorption propensity of cationic polyacryamide (PAM) dry strength resin onto hardwood bleached kraft pulp fibers and fines a systematic approach was followed. Never dried bleached hardwood kraft pulp was recycled in two different ways. In mode one recycling experiment never dried pulp was beaten then recycled three times by employing simple drying and disintegrating steps. In mode two recycling experiment beating of the recycled pulp was carried out after each recycling step. Adsorption of cationic PAM on fibers and fines was evaluated employing Kjeldahl nitrogen analysis method. The influence of recycling on water retention value, carboxyl content, sheet density and tensile strength of the pulp was examined. As the number of recycling increased, water retention value of the fiber was reduced due to hornification and this in turn caused a decrease in adsorption of cationic PAM. On the other hand, the carboxyl content of the recycled fibers increased because of the oxidation of fibers occurred during drying, and this caused an increase in adsorption of cationic PAM. Because of these two opposing factors the adsorption of the cationic PAM on the recycled fibers decreased and then increased slightly at third recycling step. Increase of PAM adsorption, however, did not provide did not provide and strength improvement for the recycled pulp fibers indicating greater influence of the honification on interfiber bonding.