Study of the Performance of the Cationic Startch of Potatoes and Wheat in Improving the Strength Properties of the Paper Produced from Old Corrugated Cartons

The recycled paper undergoes a decrease in qualitative features in spite of its advantages and potentials. This research was carried out in order for the optimum employment of old corrugated cartons in recycling paper and improving the quality of the recycled paper. Adding cationic starch to the recycled pulp causes the reduction of the lost bonding in the pulp. It accordingly increases the strength properties of the produced paper up to the quality level of the virgin pulp. Starches differ in their effects on the basis of their sources of extraction. In this study، the cationic starches of potatoes and wheat، each at four different levels (0%، 0. 5%. 1% and 1. 5% with 0. 4% alum) were used as the neutralizers of anionic trash. Hand sheets with a grammage of 120) g/m2) were made and their strength properties were measured. Moreover، the absorption rates of two kinds of starch on the pulp were calculated using the Acid-Phenol Method. The results indicated that the use of 1. 5% of potato starch and 1% of wheat starch had an optimum effect in increasing the strength of the produced paper. Concerning the comparison of these two types of starch، the potato starch was more effective that the wheat starch. The absorption diagram of these two kinds of starch also revealed that the potato starch showed a greater absorption and retention on the pulp.