Title: Alternative Environmentally Friendly Processes
& Methods of Cellulose Modification
Project funding: Ministry of Science, Education and Sports
Code: 117-1171419-1407
Project Leader: Prof. Drago Katović, Ph.D.
Topic 1.3: Wood and paper modification:
Fir wood (Abies alba Mill.) and beech wood (Fagus sylvatica L) were chemically modified with polycarboxylic acids (PCA), the new class of ecologically acceptable non-formaldehyde agents. This alternative agents combined with phosphono based catalyst have been recently introduced in finishing processes. In the first reaction step anhydride is formed, while in second anhydride reacts through ester linkages with cellulose hydroxyl and formed stabile crosslinking agents.
Dimensional stability of modified wood was analyzed by antiswelling efficiency (ASE) using the water-soak method. The results revealed that wood treated with citric acid (CA), obtained improved antiswelling efficiency followed with reduced volumetric swelling.
Other part of the experiments was performed with the group of the researchers from the Faculty of Graphical Art. One of the topics was comparison of textile and paper flame retardant effectiveness obtained with environmentally friendly agents. Binding agents based on N-methylole chemistry were successfully replaced with environmentally friendly CA. This alternative agent has been used until now for DP finishing of textiles and dimensional stability of wood while in this research it was used to bond organophosphorus oligomer to paper and impart durable FR properties.
