Mechanical properties of paper from oil palm pulp treated with chitosan from horseshoe crab

Abstract

The application of chitosan as an additive in papermaking to improve the strength and water resistant properties is described. Unbleached sulphate pulp from oil palm stem was treated with chitosan. The chitosan was prepared in the laboratory using the chitin obtained from horseshoe crab shells. The optimum condition for the addition of chitosan to the sulphate pulp was found to be 0.4% chitosan of medium molecular weight at pH 10. Substantial improvement in strength properties, particularly tear and stretch was observed for the paper treated with chitosan. The freeness of the pulp increased with decreasing viscosity of chitosan.