Compositions for use in the wet-end of papermaking

Abstract

A composition for use as a strengthening agent in the wet-end of papermaking which comprises a surface modified non-wood plant fiber and a starch component.

1 . A composition for use as a strengthening agent in the wet-end of papermaking, comprising a surface modified, non-wood plant fiber and a starch component. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the starch component is linked to the plant fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber is anionic. 
     
     
         4 . The composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber is selected from the group consisting of: cereal fibers, seed fibers, legume fibers, fruit fibers, algae fibers and mixtures of two or more thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber is selected from the group consisting of: a milled plant fiber, a heat treated plant fiber, a chemically modified plant fiber, a coated plant fiber and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber has an average particle size of 30-500 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the starch component is selected from the group consisting of a cationic and an anionic starch component. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the starch component is cold water soluble. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a composition for use as a strengthening agent in the wet-end of papermaking, comprising:
 providing a composition comprising a plant fiber and a starch component; and   surface modifying at least the plant fiber.   
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a composition for use as a strengthening agent in the wet-end of papermaking, comprising:
 providing a composition comprising a plant fiber;   surface modifying the plant fiber; and   mixing the modified plant fiber composition with a starch component.   
     
     
         12 . A process for producing paper products, comprising:
 bringing a composition comprising a surface modified, non-wood plant fiber and a starch component into contact with a cellulosic pulp; and   producing a paper product from the pulp obtained in step (a).   
     
     
         13 . A paper product produced by the process of  claim 12 . 
     
     
         14 . The paper product according to  claim 13 , comprising surface modified, non-wood plant fibers and cellulose fibers in a weight ratio of 1:500 to 1:4. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 12 , further comprising increasing the dry strength of the paper product. 
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber has an anionicity of 10 to 2000 μeq/G. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the ceLlulosic pulp comprises recycled cellulose fibers. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein bringing the composition into contact with the cellulosic pulp increases the dry strength of the paper product. 
     
     
         19 . The process of  claim 12 , wherein the cellulosic pulp has a conductivity level above 4 mS/cm.