PAPER making! g! FROM THE PUBLISHERS OF PAPER TECHNOLOGY INTERNATIONAL ® Volume 12, Number 1, 2026
discharge risks. This study innovatively explored the coupled application of the life cycle assessment method and the fault tree analysis theory to quantify environmental emissions and risks throughout corrugated paper production. To this end, the study first established a life cycle model tailored to corrugated paper production, with four key environmental impact categories analyzed systematically. Target process-related risk of excessive wastewater pollutants discharge, the study further constructed the fault tree model incorporating with the analytic hierarchy method to conduct an in-depth analysis of the causation mechanisms underlying excessive wastewater pollutants discharge. For 1 ton of corrugated paper from non-deinked waste paper pulp, the study obtained life cycle inventory and quantitative values of the four environmental impacts. Further analysis revealed that clean fuels can rapidly mitigate the impact of waste gas emissions, whereas wastewater discharge is closely associated with the design and operation of core processes, particularly pulping, papermaking, and wastewater treatment units. Meanwhile, the calculated excessive discharge probability is 0.6033, indicating higher environmental risk than international leading enterprises, with process-related defects as primary risk factors. This study could provide scientific support for environmental risk prevention policies and methodological references for similar enterprises, promoting sustainability in the pulping and papermaking industry. FILLERS “Distillers' Grains Used as a Filler in Recycled Containerboard”, Gao, Hongxia; Cai, Zhenyu; Sun, Yao; Wan, Zihao; Xu, Chi; Yang, Canwen; Xu, Yang, BioResources , Vol.20(4), 2025, p9477. Distillers' grain (DG) was used as an ingredient in paperboard made in the laboratory from recycled containerboard fibers. The chemical composition and physico-chemical properties of DG fractions that had been isolated using varied screens were investigated. The effect of DG incorporation on the properties of the recycled paperboard was compared relative what was obtained with either precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) or talc powder as fillers. The DG was found to mainly contain cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, protein, and fat. At a filler addition level of 5%, the 100- to 140-mesh DG-filled handsheet exhibited the most satisfactory physical properties, with a tensile index of 25.4N·m·g -1 and a ring crush index of 7.95N·m·g -1 . The strength values were generally higher than those of paper filled by PCC or talc powder at the same addition levels. The tensile index and ring crush index of hybrid-filled handsheets increased with increasing ratios of DG. The results suggest that DG can be used as a substitute for fiber content in some grades of paperboard, especially where a low-cost, bulky material could provide an advantage. Such usage of DG can resolve environmental challenges associated with storage and transportation of excess DG that is presently discarded. “Papers with high filler contents enabled by nanocelluloses as retention and strengthening agents”, Jiahe Li, Roufen Wu, Wen-Jun Wang, Khak Ho Lim, Xuan Yang, Carbohydrate Polymers , Vol.358, 15 June 2025, 123506. The development of economic and functional papers relies on the introduction of functional filler particles but faces several challenges, especially the low filler retention and inferior mechanical properties. This study introduces plant-based cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) as dual-function retention and strengthening agents, offering a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based polymer additives. Precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), a widely used filler, is selected as the model system. The effects of CNF dosage, aspect ratio, and surface carboxyl content on the filler flocculation process were systematically investigated, with additional enhancement achieved through cationic ion crosslinking to improve filler bridging. Remarkably, a superior filler retention rate (>90%) and filler-tensile factor (2.0) were achieved for the final papers at very low CNF dosage (1%), surpassing most literature data.
Technical Abstracts
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