Title
Rapeseed stalks for papermaking: Studies on pulping refining and dewatering
Authors
ROBERTO AGUADO ANA MORAL PERE MUTJE and ANTONIO TIJERO

Received October 31, 2014
Published Volume 49 Issue 9-10 October-December
Keywords rapeseed, soda-anthraquinone, organosolv pulping, paper properties, drainage

Abstract
Cereal straw, bamboo and bagasse are the most widely used non-wood raw materials, but work is being done towards other interesting sources of fibres, such as rapeseed stalks and straw. Rapeseed oil production for energetic purposes is increasing, and so are wastes. In this work, pulps from Brassica napus (rapeseed) stalks were obtained by soda anthraquinone and Organosolv cooking. They were refined in a PFI mill. Handsheets made from those pulps were tested. Drainage rate and retention of fillers were also evaluated. We address the capabilities of rapeseed stalks and stems for papermaking and the influence of refining on the mechanical properties, the morphology of fibres and the amount of fines. This material was found to be suitable for papermaking and, as an advantage, a small number of PFI revolutions resulted in a substantial gain in mechanical properties.