Effect of PVAm Application for Fine Paper on Effectiveness of Optical Brightening Agent

Effects of cationic polyvinylamine (PVAm) dry strength agent on effectiveness of optical brightening agent (OBA) during fine papermaking and the mechanism for brightness reduction of paper by PVAm was investigated by UV/Vis spectroscopy and turbidity measurement of OBA solution with PVAm. It was shown that PVAm reduced brightness of paper while opacity was not varied and tensile strength of paper was increased. Tetra-type OBA solution showed the peaks around the wavelength of 280 nm and 330 nm and the increase in the OBA concentration increased the UV absorbance in all wavelength. Addition of PVAm into the OBA solution decreased the UV absorbance at 280 nm. Turbidities of OBA and PVAm solutions were close to zero, respectively, while the turbidity value increased for the mixed solution of OBA and PVAm in various mixing ratios and the highest value was obtained when the mixing ratio of PVAm and OBA was 5:5, meaning that cationic PVAm formed complex with anionic OBA. In conclusion, cationic PVAm could form a complex with anionic OBA and that reduced UV absorbance, resulting in the reduced brightness of paper. © 2016 Korean Technical Assoc. of the Pulp and Paper Industry. All rights reserved.