Improvement of ink and heavy metal removal from old corrugated container stock by alkali kneading

One of the possible ways to strengthen competitiveness of Kraft paper industry is to replace the expensive virgin unbleached kraft pulp (UKP) with old corrugated container (OCC), a cheaper and lower grade raw material. When OCC is utilized to produce kraft paper, the main problems are the impaired appearance of the products, and heavy metals and hazardous materials in the products caused by the printed ink and other contaminants. In order to improve the removal efficiency of ink and heavy metals from old corrugated container stock, the effect of adding alkali during kneading of OCC stock was investigated. It was found that adding NaOH and sodium silicate during kneading could improve detachment of ink from fiber surface and removal of it from stock and hence improve heavy metal removal from OCC stock. Since alkali addition improves ink detachment, effective residual ink concentration (ERIC) of pulp was decreased and brightness was increased. Tensile strength and tensile energy absorption (TEA) were increased with addition of alkali.