Cationization of Corncob Holocellulose as a Paper Strengthening Agent

In this paper, milled corncob powder was treated with sodium chlorite to remove lignin, and the resulting holocellulose was optionally modified with cationic agent. The derivative product was investigated using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The influences of the dosage of the cationic agent, reaction temperature, particle size, dosage of paper strengthening agent, and pH value of the pulp on the paper physical properties were studied. The results indicated that cationic corncob holocellulose can improve the tensile index, burst index, and folding endurance of paper. When the dosage of cationic agent was 25% and the reaction temperature was set to 70 °C, the resulting tensile index, burst index, and folding endurance increased by 7.15%, 13.74%, and 55.95%, respectively, when compared with the control paper. The particle size of the raw material and the dosage of strengthening agent also greatly influenced the paper’s properties. The SEM analysis showed that the combination of fibers improved the strength properties of the paper after adding the strengthening agent. These results provide a method for value-added use of corncob waste.