Abstract
Increase in the utilization rate of recycled paper and closing level of papermaking system increased the problem associated with stickies that include decrease in process runnability and product quality. It is required to establish a process for removing the micro stickies to solve the problems associated with stickies. In this study, the application of flotation process as a method to remove micro stickies was examined. Model micro stickies (MMS) were prepared using microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and pressure sensitive adhesives (PSA), and the influence of three nonionic surfactants on the removal efficiency of MMS from flotation process was examined. Also the effect of surfactants on the deposition of micro stickies that remaining in the papermaking wet end onto wire was examined. Removal efficiency of MMS by flotation was increased when the proportion of nonionic surfactant with propylene oxide (PO) type hydrophilic tail was increased and stock pH was 7. It was suggested that this nonionic surfactant minimized the increase of surface energy of hydrophobic MMS. The MMS with high hydrophobicity remaining in the papermaking system, however, would cause more serious deposition problems on papermaking wet end. Therefore, it is of great importance to increase the removal efficiency of MMS in flotation process for the prevention of papermaking system contamination caused by stickies deposition.