The use of chemithermomechanical (CTMP) pulp from rapeseed residues as raw material for the manufacturing of linerboard and fluting medium grades was investigated. For this purpose, different alternatives for improving mechanical and optical properties of rapeseed CTMP were studied, and the addition of nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was proposed to decrease the intensity of the beating process and enhance the final mechanical properties. Handsheets from each pulp were produced, and their properties compared to those of linerboard from recycled paper. Compared to kraft linerboard from recycled paper, rapeseed CTMP required less beating to reach an optimal breaking length. This reduction in beating can be combined with the addition of NFC to improve the mechanical properties of paper. Therefore, rapeseed CTMP from crop residues is a technically affordable alternative for the production of fluting and linerboard grades

The authors wish to thank the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion for the financial support (CTQ2010-21660-C03-03 and CTM2011-28506-C02-01) of this study