Polymeric Branched Flocculant Effect on the Flocculation Process of Pulp Suspensions in the Papermaking Industry

摘要

This paper presents the effect of the structure of cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) on flocculation of pulpudsuspensions and floc properties. A focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) probe was used to monitorudflocculation, deflocculation, and reflocculation processes in real time. To carry out the study, 1% elementaludchlorine free (ECF) eucalyptus kraft pulp containing 20% ground calcium carbonate (GCC) was used. Resultsudshow that the effect of the CPAM structure depends on charge density and polymer dose. Floc size does notudalways decrease with branching degree, whereas floc stability and reflocculation ability increased when highlyudcharged and branched CPAM was used. These findings indicate that the use of highly branched CPAMs withudvery high molecular weight is very promising as a retention aid method to improve the papermaking process.