Performance Evaluation of a New Taylor-Flow Grinder in Manufacturing Carboxymethylated Nanofibrillated Cellulose

Abstract

Nanofibrillated celluloses (NFCs) are of high economic value owing to their inherent properties, and the deployed manufacturing technology is critical to producing high-quality NFCs. The grinding efficiency determines the quality of mechanically fibrillated NFCs. Previously, a finished Taylor-flow grinder was developed by addressing the operating issues and drawbacks of a prototype grinder and, subsequently, a pilot grinder. This study evaluated the grinding efficiency of the Taylor-flow grinder using hardwood bleached kraft pulp (Hw-BKP) as a raw material, carboxymethylated with monochloroacetic acid and other chemicals. Afterward, two sets of carboxymethylated NFCs (CM-NFCs) were prepared using the finished Taylor-flow grinder and a commercial micro-grinder (commercial grinder) for comparison. To do this, the characteristics of the products obtained using both grinders were determined to evaluate the grinding efficiency of the grinder and that of the representative commercial grinder. The results confirmed that the CM-NFCs prepared with the grinder exhibited higher fiber width and lower viscosity than those prepared using the commercial grinder. Moreover, they were relatively uniform and transparent compared with those prepared with the commercial grinder. Thus, a finished Taylor-flow grinder was developed and demonstrated for manufacturing CM-NFCs with higher qualities from Hardwood kraft pulp.