Method for preparing nonwood fiber paper
Paper comprised solely of a nonwood fiber mix is demonstrated to meet the technical physical specifications of commercially produced papers made from wood. The esthetically impressive paper meets nearly every technical specification of commercially produced paper.
1. A method of preparing photocopy paper from a whole straw nonwood fiber source comprising:
chopping a quantity of a dry whole straw nonwood fiber source to an average length between 1-100 mm, wherein the whole straw nonwood fiber is a mixture of 60-90% wheat and 10-40% flax;
wet processing the chopped whole straw material to remove dirt, fines and water-soluble extractives;
dewatering the chopped whole straw material;
pre-heating a cooking liquor comprising 5-50% NaOH (w/w) and 0-10% anthraquinone (w/w) to a temperature between 60-100° C.;
heating the chopped whole straw material in the cooking liquor for 10-240 minutes to a temperature between 100-240° C.;
washing the heated chopped material;
bleaching the washed material;
deflaking the bleached material; and
forming the deflaked, bleached material into photocopy paper sheets.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the whole straw nonwood fiber is a mixture of 70-90% wheat and 10-30% flax.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the anthraquinone is added at 0-5% (w/w).
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the anthraquinone is added at 0-2% (w/w).
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the NaOH is added at 10-40% (w/w).
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the NaOH is added at 12-30% (w/w).
7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the whole straw material is chopped to an average length between 3-75 mm.
8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the whole straw material is chopped to an average length between 5-50 mm.
9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked for 15-200 minutes.
10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked for 20-150 minutes.
11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked to a temperature between 120-200° C.
12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked to a temperature between 140-180° C.
13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooled with water following cooking.
14. A method of preparing a paper product from a whole straw nonwood fiber source comprising:
chopping a quantity of a dry whole straw nonwood fiber source to an average length between 1-100 mm, wherein the whole straw nonwood fiber is a mixture of 60-90% wheat and 10-40% flax;
wet processing the chopped whole straw material to remove dirt, fines and water-soluble extractives;
dewatering the chopped whole straw material;
pre-heating a cooking liquor comprising 5-50% NaOH (w/w) and 0-10% anthraquinone (w/w) to a temperature between 60-100° C.;
heating the chopped whole straw material in the cooking liquor for 10-240 minutes to a temperature between 100-240° C.;
washing the heated chopped material;
bleaching the washed material;
deflaking the bleached material; and
forming the deflaked material into a paper product.
15. The method according to claim 14 wherein the paper product is selected from the group consisting of toilet paper, tissue paper, paper towels, wrapping paper, box board, photo paper, colored paper, printing paper, writing paper, stationery, sack paper and paper board.
16. The method according to claim 14 wherein the anthraquinone is added at 0-5% (w/w).
17. The method according to claim 14 wherein the anthraquinone is added at 0-2% (w/w).
18. The method according to claim 14 wherein the NaOH is added at 10-40% (w/w).
19. The method according to claim 14 wherein the NaOH is added at 12-30% (w/w).
20. The method according to claim 14 wherein the whole straw material is chopped to an average length between 3-75 mm.
21. The method according to claim 14 wherein the whole straw material is chopped to an average length between 5-50 mm.
22. The method according to claim 14 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked for 15-200 minutes.
23. The method according to claim 14 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked for 20-150 minutes.
24. The method according to claim 14 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked to a temperature between 120-200° C.
25. The method according to claim 14 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooked to a temperature between 140-180° C.
26. The method according to claim 14 wherein the chopped whole straw material is cooled with water following cooking.