Production of nanopaper from cellulose nanofiber prepared from chemical soda bagasse pulp: Effect of processing variables; Pre-treatment and homogenization passing

In this research، study on the capabilities of DED bleached soda bagasse pulp as a raw material for production of cellulose nanofiber was explored. For this purpose، different types of cellulose nanofiber were prepared. Cellulose nanofiber was produced either mechanically by homogenization or with enzymatic pre-treatment (pre-treatment with Endoglucanase) followed by homogenization. The effect of different passing through homogenization (three and five times) for either un-pretreated or enzyme pre-treated pulps on the nanofiber and nanopaper properties was studied as processing variables. The results showed that viscosities and DP of cellulose nanofiber decreased with increasing the homogenization passing. Dispersion Casting (DC) was selected as a nanopaper production approach. Tensile index of nanopaper increased with increasing homogenization passing from three to five times and nanopaper prepared from enzyme pre-treated pulps and five passing homogenization had higher tensile and lower tear indices. This was most certainly due to asignificant increment cellulose nanofiber fibrillation through homogenization processes.