The influence of xylanase-treated bleached broadleaf pulp as a substitute for flax pulp on the properties of slim cigarette paper

Abstract This study addresses the high cost of imported flax pulp (FP) in fine cigarette paper production. It was found that the key difference between bleached hardwood kraft pulp (HBKP) and FP lies in their hemicellulose components. Consequently, commercial HBKP was treated with xylanase under optimized conditions, reducing its xylose content by up to 18.5 %. Based on this process, the same enzymatic treatment was applied to the mixed pulp in cigarette paper production lines, yielding even better results. Enzyme-treated bleached hardwood kraft pulp (EHBKP) was used to partially replace FP (0–50 %) in cigarette papermaking. The effects on the physical properties and pyrolysis characteristics of the resulting paper were comparatively studied. The results showed that when EHBKP replaced 10–50 % of FP, the tensile strength of the paper increased by up to 15.6 %, while the tear index decreased by only 10.9 %. Py-GC/MS analysis revealed that when EHBKP replaced 10 % of FP in cigarette paper production, benzene compounds generated from paper pyrolysis at 900 °C decreased by 23.7 %, and phenolic compounds continued to decrease with increasing replacement levels. In conclusion, replacing 10–20 % of FP with EHBKP significantly reduces harmful pyrolysis products while maintaining essential physical properties, combustion performance, and paper thermal stability.