The production of high filler-loaded recycled papers is often affected by high values of linting
and low values of strength. In the first case, the
accumulation of lint particles from paper’s surface on
the printing blanket affects the quality of the printed
paper and the pressroom’s productivity. In the second
case, increasing the use of fillers and recycling cycles
lead to poor paper strength. Cellulose nanofibers
(CNFs) are receiving a great deal of attention due to
their potential as a reinforcement aid for high fillerloaded papers through filler–fiber interaction and
interfiber bonding. It is already proven that high
quality CNFs can reduce linting, although their
industrial application is limited by their high production cost. The objective of this research is, therefore, to
quantify the effect of applying lower grade, more
sustainable CNFs on linting phenomena and on the
mechanical properties of recycled papers. Eucalyptus,
pine and triticale residues were used as cellulose
sources, and the CNFs were produced minimizing the
chemical pretreatment before homogenization. Addition of 3 wt% of CNFs from pine residues into the
recycled paper with 15.7 wt% of total filler reduced
linting by 40% and increased tensile strength by
15.1%; further improvements on linting and mechanical properties were achieved at 5 wt%. Moreover, the
increase in drainage time can be overcome by the
addition of a retention aid, in this case a coagulantcationic polyacrylamide-bentonite system, commonly
used in paper mills.

• Cellulose nanofibers from residues to improve linting and mechanical properties of recycled paper