The application of chitosan as an additive in papermaking to improve the strengthand water resistant properties is described. Unbleached sulphate pulp from oil palmstem was treated with chitosan. The chitosan was prepared in the laboratory usingthe chitin obtained from horseshoe crab shells. The optimum condition for theaddition of chitosan to the sulphate pulp was found to be 0.4% chitosan of mediummolecular weight at pH 10. Substantial improvement in strength properties,particularly tear and stretch was observed for the paper treated with chitosan. Thefreeness of the pulp increased with decreasing viscosity of chitosan.
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