Novel routes for the synthesis of precipitated calcium carbonate and application thereof in papermaking.

This postdoctoral project aims to elucidate the properties that make certain precipitated calcium carbonates (PCCs) attractive for papermaking applications, and demonstrate how to achieve these using sonochemical, waste-derived and nanotechnological synthesis routes. PCCs produced at the KU Leuven, as well as those supplied by the collaborating partners, will be tested as paper fillers or paper coating pigments, with their effects, due to different morphological and optical properties, being assessed and compared to commercial PCC varieties. This research is expected to bring novel technological developments and improve fundamental understanding in the areas of PCC synthesis and application thereof in papermaking. More specifically, the findings will be useful for informing researchers working on PCC production for the purposes of carbon capture and waste valorization on the product requirements. This is important as currently most researchers are focussing on production yield rather than properties, and as a result many produced PCCs are not suitable for their intended applications.

Keywords:papermaking, Precipitated calcium carbonate, Fillers, Mineral carbonation, Accelerated Carbonation, Sonochemical synthesis, Aragonite, Waste materials

Disciplines:Catalysis and reacting systems engineering, Chemical product design and formulation, General chemical and biochemical engineering, Process engineering, Separation and membrane technologies, Transport phenomena, Other (bio)chemical engineering