Hemicellulose as an additive in papermaking

Abstract Hemicellulose, a lignocellulosic component derived from wood or non-wood pulping, has garnered emerging research interest due to its unique property profiles, which enable its potential use as a bio-based alternative additive in paper production. Additionally, it holds significant promise for commercialization within the forest biorefinery sector. The paper reviews the articles investigated on hemicellulose and cationic hemicellulose addition in papermaking. Studies have shown that hemicellulose removal from the pulp decreased tensile strength, and hemicellulose addition reduced refining energy and improved strength properties. The effectiveness of hemicellulose addition in pulp is influenced by the molar mass of xylan. The primary challenge in using hemicellulose as a wet-end chemical is its limited ability to significantly improve papermaking properties. Therefore, it needs to be cationized to get desired performance. The cationization agents are 3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (CHPTAC) and 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (EPTAC), which are used in alkaline medium. To reduce the degradation of hemicellulose, the cationization was also carried out in aqueous ethanol and relatively low alkali concentration. The application of cationic xylans to the anionic pulp surface mitigates the electrostatic repulsion, facilitate stronger inter-fiber bonding and improve papermaking properties.