Preparation of in-situ modified diatomite and its application in papermaking

• Published in: Colloids and surfaces. A, Physicochemical and engineering aspects Physicochemical and engineering aspects, 2023-01, Vol.657, p.130582, Article 130582
• Main Authors: Fan, Zhitian, Li, Zheng, Qi, Wei, Zhao, Shuting, Zhou, Bing, Liu, Songyan, Tian, Yumei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Diatomite; Paper filler; Paper wastewater; Surface modification
• ISSN: 0927-7757; 1873-4359
• DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2022.130582

In the paper industry, adding fillers can replace plant fibers in pulp, which is beneficial to environmental protection and cost reduction. However, the large-scale use of inorganic fillers can interfere with interfiber bonding, thereby affecting the physical properties of paper. Due to the loss of fillers and paper fibers, the pollution of paper machine white water is aggravated. In order to improve the above situation, diatomite was used as the matrix and modified by Al(OH)3 in-situ precipitation. In this study, modified diatomite was used as a papermaking filler. Paper properties, retention and the chemical oxygen demand in papermaking wastewater were also evaluated. The results show that, compared with the blank control, the modified diatomite filler could effectively improve the retention rate and reduce the pollution of paper machine white water while maintaining the physical strength of the paper. Among them, the fiber retention rate of pulp raw material could reach 98.05% and the chemical oxygen demand content of paper machine white water was 30.10 mg L−1. [Display omitted] •Modified diatomite filler for paper making was prepared by in-situ precipitation of Al(OH)3 on the surface of diatomite.•The modified diatomite changed the electronegativity of the surface and could link with pulp fibers better.•Wastewater quality and paper properties added by the modified diatomite and CPAM were significantly increased.