Nanofibrillation of White Water Solids and Their Application to Papermaking Process

Seung-wook Park; Kunhee Lee; Hakmyoung Lee; Hye Jung Youn

doi:10.7584/JKTAPPI.2026.2.58.1.69

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2026 Vol.58, Issue 1 Preview Page Next Page

Original Paper

Nanofibrillation of White Water Solids and Their Application to Papermaking Process 백수 고형분의 나노피브릴화 및 이의 제지공정 적용

28 February 2026. pp. 69-81

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Abstract

This study investigated the valorization of white water solids generated during corrugating medium production by converting them into nanofibrils and applying them as strengthening agent and surface sizing additive in the papermaking process. Saveall-recovered solids were used as white water solids, and their composition and fiber morphology were analyzed. Through mechanical grinding, white water originated cellulose nanofibrils (WCNF), which consisted of nanofibril-inorganic matter composites, were produced. The applicability of WCNF as strengthening agent was examined while varying WCNF dosage and retention aid addition. Even without a retention aid, WCNF addition led to moderate increases in tensile, burst, and compressive strength because nanofibrils contributed to inter-fiber bonding. When a retention aid was added, WCNF was retained more effectively within the sheet, enabling the nanofibrils to fully reinforce the fiber network. Under these conditions, handsheets containing 5 or 7 wt% WCNF exhibited increases of approximately 20 to 26% in tensile, burst, and compressive strength and in bending stiffness compared with the handsheet without WCNF. WCNF was also incorporated into oxidized starch-based surface sizing formulations, leading to improved mechanical strength. These results demonstrate that nanofibrillated white water solids can be converted into high value functional materials capable of reinforcing fiber networks and improving the properties. The approach offers an effective strategy for upgrading papermaking by-products, enabling material circularity and potential reductions in raw material consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.

Keywords

White water solids

corrugating medium

nanofibrillation

retention

strengthening agent

surface sizing

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Information

Publisher :Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
Publisher(Ko) :한국펄프종이공학회
Journal Title :Journal of Korea TAPPI
Journal Title(Ko) :펄프종이기술
Volume : 58
No :1
Pages :69-81
Received Date : 2025-12-24
Revised Date : 2026-02-01
Accepted Date : 2026-02-01
DOI :https://doi.org/10.7584/JKTAPPI.2026.2.58.1.69

Journal of Korea TAPPI ISSN:0253-3200(Print) 펄프종이기술

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