Research of the enzymatic/chemical pretreatment methods effect on product performance characteristics in nanotechnological wrapping paper and cardboard production

In Turkey, wastes belonging to many agricultural products are left to rot or burned in the field after harvest. However, a sustainable agriculture is possible with the effective disposal of wastes. In recent years, agricultural wastes have become utilizable in many areas. One of these areas is nanotechnological applications. The aim of this study is to obtain nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF) and oxidized nanofibrillated cellulose (CNF-OX) from wheat straw and using these products in superior qualified wrapping paper and cardboard production instead of foreign-sourced chemicals which have a serious impact on costs. In this context, the fiber production method was determined with a series of pre-cooking trials of wheat stalks, which are the main raw material source. Chlorite bleaching method was applied to those fibers and then they were subjected to enzymatic and oxidation pretreatments and then reduced to micro and nano size in the homogenization stage. Products determined as optimum micro and nano celluloses were added to bulk suspensions of cardboard and fluting paper or to the size press of the paper machine. The papers obtained within the scope of the study; mechanical, physical and drainage properties were also determined according to the relevant standards. The test results of the papers which were produced using nanocellulose and commercial nanocellulose, and determined as methodologically and cost-effective were compared with each other. According to the results; in enzymatic treatment it was observed that cellulase enzyme was more effective than hemicellulase enzyme and in oxidation processes, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-N-oxyl (TEMPO) was more effective than N-hydroxy phthalimide (PINO) and periodate oxidation. On the other hand, the results after the homogenization process revealed that the fiber structure was completely changed and the fibers were homogeneously reduced to nano size. Addition of optimum CNF and commercial nanocellulose (P-CNF) to the pulp fibers from the body and surface, improved the mechanical properties of the papers and the drainage properties were adversely affected. In addition, it has been observed that physical properties decrease as a result of optimum CNF and P-CNF additions to pulp fibers.