The effect of using sucrose on bagasse soda pulp properties

Background and objective: The paper industry in the world is encountered with raw cellulose material constraints. In many countries, wood in sufficient quantities does not exist on the pulp and paper industry needs. The rapid growth of paper consumption, causes raw materials shortages in the pulp and paper industry. The overall objectives of the pulp industry is to increase efficiency, reduce costs, development of environmentally friendly processes and improve the quality of products. The pulp and paper industries are increasingly growing and developing. The reports showed that sugars due to their abundance, small sizes (nanometer size) and substantial hydrogen bonding capacity can be considered appropriate substance in the paper industry. On the other hand, the paper strength varied with sugar type, sugar content in the final papers and the level of refining of the constituent fibers. This research was carried out to investigate the effect of using sucrose as an organic additive on bagasse soda pulp properties.
Materials and methods: Bagasse soda pulp of pars haft Tapeh factory and sucrose solution (different concentrations of 5, 10, 15, 20 % based on dry weight of fibers) were used. Bagasse soda pulp was incorporated with sucrose solution in different concentrations, and were stirred in the mixer for 20 min. The hand sheets with base weight of 60 ± 3 g/m2 were prepared according to TAPPI standard. The effect of using sucrose on optical, mechanical and physical properties of hand sheets were examined and compared to control sample, which was without sucrose.
Results: The results showed a significant difference between control sample (sample without sucrose) and papers containing sucrose in terms of optical, mechanical and physical properties (p≤0.01). With increasing of sucrose up to 15 % by weight in the paper, density, air resistance, water retention value, tensile index, burst index increased while tear index, opacity and brightness decreased. The enhancement of paper strength with adding sucrose up to 15 % is due to bonding hydrogen between hydroxyl groups of the sugar and those of the cellulosic lamellae of the cell wall.
Conclusion: Overall, when the retained sucrose content in the paper reached a maximum of approximately 4 % of the dry weight of paper, many hydrogen bonds formed between saturated fibers with disaccharide sugars and, this led to the strengthening fibers network in pulp and paper and improving the paper properties. Paper composites produced in this work can be used as absorbent paper, due to their high water retention.