Scientists turn paper recycling effluent into useful product

ALBANY (Scrap Monster): Scientists from Argentina has discovered a new technique to extract useful product from waste material produced during paper recycling process.

Researchers at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata have unveiled a new technique to extract short-chain celluloses from the effluent material which could later be recycled into carboxy methyl cellulose products. Carboxy methyl cellulose products are extensively used as thickening agent in paper industry and also in the manufacturing process of various products including personal care products, detergents and paints.

The samples of short-chain cellulose from the effluent material are initially mixed with isopropanol and sodium hydroxide. This mixture is stirred at room temperature for almost an hour. After that, acetic acid is added into this mixture and is again stirred at 55 degree Celsius for nearly three hours. It is then cooled to 30 degree Celsius and then incubated for up to 21 hours. Finally, the mixture is subjected to various separation and drying procedures.

According to researchers, the short-chain cellulose thus obtained were not 100% pure and had lower water absorption properties. However, further purification steps could make it more suitable for new variety of applications.