In-Situ Precipitated Calcium Carbonate in the Presence of Wood Flour and High Refined Old Corrugated Containerboard: A Handsheet Study

The paper and board industry strives to become more environmentally friendly by utilizing new eco-friendly raw materials that can improve production processes at the same time. One solution for the board producing paper product segment is the utilization of nano fibrillated fiber material, the utilization of wood flour, and the production of In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate. The presented research project investigates on a laboratory scale the possibility of producing In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate in the presence of old corrugated container fibers, nano fibrillated old corrugated container fibers and wood flour as an alternate additive for paper production process. The laboratory experiments produced successfully In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate in the presence of old corrugated fiber, nano fibrillated old corrugated fiber and wood flour material. In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate could be produced at a level of 6.94%, 13.88%, and 20.83% regardless of the fiber material used. Time for the precipitation was shorter for the lower level of In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate, while higher level of In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate increased up to over 9-fold for the old corrugated fiber, nano fibrillated old corrugated fiber and wood flour. Fine retention for the old corrugated fiber material with In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate containing wood flour was slightly lower than for the old corrugated fiber material with in-situ precipitated calcium carbonate. Nano fibrillated old corrugated fiber material with in-situ precipitated calcium carbonate had a approximately 40% higher fine retention ability then the old corrugated fiber material and the wood flour material, allowing that more In-Situ precipitated calcium carbonate material can be incorporated into the paper during sheet forming. These findings suggest that ISPCC can be effectively produced with different fiber sources and may serve as an efficient filler for paper products, leading to improved performance and environmental sustainability.