Starch Retention in Paper via Trivalent Salt Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for treating starch applied to paper using cationic polyacrylamides and other polymers have been ineffective in achieving significant retention and forming strong ionic bonds between fibers, leading to high operating costs and suboptimal physical characteristics of paper.
Innovation Solution
The method involves using trivalent and bivalent inorganic cationic salts and cationic organic polymers to cluster starch particles and form strong chemical bonds with cellulosic fibers, enhancing retention and physical properties of paper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cationic polyacrylamides and other polymers are used to treat starch, then the process can be implemented, but starch retention remains insufficient and ionic bonds between fibers are not formed effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using trivalent and bivalent inorganic cationic salts instead of conventional cationic polymers. This parameter change enables effective ionic bonding with starch particles, achieving 20-50% retention and forming strong ionic bonds between fibers, thereby resolving the insufficiency of starch retention and process efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite chemical treatment by combining inorganic cationic salts with optional cationic organic polymers. This composite approach creates synergistic effects where the inorganic salts provide primary ionic bonding and the organic polymers enhance the effect, achieving both high starch retention and strong fiber bonding simultaneously
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional polymers are used for starch treatment, then the process can proceed, but operating costs remain high and physical characteristics of paper are suboptimal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inorganic cationic salts which are generally cheaper and more readily available than specialized cationic polymers. These salts provide effective treatment at lower cost, reducing operating costs while maintaining or improving physical characteristics through strong ionic bonding
Solution Approach 2:
By changing from organic polymer-based treatment to inorganic salt-based treatment, the patent achieves cost reduction while simultaneously improving physical characteristics through enhanced ionic bonds between fibers, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing cost and product quality
3Reliability
If starch is applied to paper sheets, then retention can be improved, but contaminants and waste increase
Solution Approach 1:
The inorganic cationic salts selectively bind to and extract excess starch particles from the slurry, removing them from the paper formation process. This extraction mechanism achieves high retention (20-50%) while minimizing contaminants and waste by preventing starch from being washed away
Solution Approach 2:
The treatment system is self-regulating, where the inorganic salts automatically bind to starch particles based on their ionic charge characteristics. This self-service mechanism ensures optimal retention without requiring excessive starch application, thereby reducing contaminants and waste while maintaining high retention rates
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach increases starch retention on paper to 20-50%, reduces starch consumption and contaminants, and enhances the physical characteristics of paper by forming stronger ionic bonds between fibers, thereby improving the paper's mechanical properties and reducing waste.
Implementation Method 1
trivalent and bivalent inorganic cationic salts...reacting with the native starch which is slightly anionic...compensate for the cationic charge of the trivalent ion
Implementation Method 2
forming new ionic bonds between the fibers...forming stronger ionic bonds between fibers
Implementation Method 3
the efficiency of the process in the flocculation of the starch slurry...particles of different sizes are clustered together, unifying and increasing the starch particle size
Data Source
AI summary
The object of the process of the invention is to increase the retention of starch in the sheet of paper in order to reduce operating costs and increase the physical characteristics of the paper. To that end, it has been envisaged that trivalent cationic salts are added, metered into the slurry or in the process for obtaining starch in powder form or by mixing a percentage of trivalent salts in powder form with the starch in powder form, seeking the solution of said salts in the slurry, so that they dissolve during the dispersion of the slurry in the process for obtaining the sheet of paper. Organic polymers such as polyacrylamides, polyvinylamides and polydadmacs could optionally be applied in addition to said salts.