title: Influence of High Shear Dispersion on the Production of Cellulose Nanofibers by Ultrasound-Assisted TEMPO-Oxidation of Kraft Pulp.
abstract: Cellulose nanofibers can be produced using a combination of TEMPO, sodium bromide (NaBr) and sodium hypochlorite, and mechanical dispersion. Recently, this process has been the subject of intensive investigation. However, studies on the aspects of mechanical treatment of this process remain marginal. The main objective of this study is to evaluate the high shear dispersion parameters (e.g., consistency, stator-rotor gap, recirculation rate and pH) and determine their influences on nanocellulose production using ultrasound-assisted TEMPO-oxidation of Kraft pulp. All nanofiber gels produced in this study exhibited rheological behaviors known as shear thinning. From all the dispersion parameters, the following conditions were identified as optimal: 0.042 mm stator-rotor gap, 200 mL/min recycle rate, dispersion pH of 7 and a feed consistency of 2%. High quality cellulose gel could be produced under these conditions. This finding is surely of great interest for the pulp and paper industry.
authors.affiliation: Lignocellulosic Material Research Centre, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. eric.loranger1@uqtr.ca.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loranger
authors.affiliation: Lignocellulosic Material Research Centre, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. andre-olivier.piche@uqtr.ca.
authors.forename: André-Olivier
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Piché
authors.affiliation: Lignocellulosic Material Research Centre, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, 3351 Des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. claude.daneault@uqtr.ca.|Canada Research Chair in Value-added Paper, 3351 Des Forges, Trois-Rivières, Québec G9A 5H7, Canada. claude.daneault@uqtr.ca.
authors.forename: Claude
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Daneault
keywords: Kraft pulp; TEMPO-oxidation; consistency; high-shear dispersion; nanocellulose; pH; recirculation rate; rheological behavior; stator-rotor gap; ultrasound