Hemicelluloses have been considered as an efficient component to improve the bonding or strength of fiber networks. The degree of substitution (DS) of cationic hemicelluloses and the ionic strength of applied medium are therefore two most important and crucial factors influencing its performance in wet-end of papermaking. Therein, the impact of DS of cationic xylan (CX) derived from corncob on the strength of fiber networks was systematically explored in aqueous media with various ionic strengths. Initially, a series of CXs with DS ranging from 0.051 to 0.113 were synthesized via a microwave-assisted method. The resulting CXs were applied as wet-end additives in the media with conductivity of 500, 2500, and 5000 μs/cm, representing the low, moderate, and high level of electrolytes in closed white water circulation, respectively. Comparing to the control, all CXs improved the tensile and tear strength of paper significantly, while not in burst strength. The medium conductivity had an adverse impact on the performance of CXs, and the optimum DS of CXs was down shifted to about 0.05 ∼ 0.06. To mimic the adsorption of CXs on fiber surface, the adsorption behavior of CXs on negatively charged gold sensor was monitored by SPR in an attempt to reveal the mechanism. It was found that CXs with low DS had a larger adsorption capacity, thicker and softer adlayer, which are beneficial to fiber bonding and paper strength. This study is meaningful to the applications of xylan into value-added products and to the valorization of agricultural and forestry wastes.

半纤维素已被认为是改善纤维网络的粘合或强度的有效成分。因此，阳离子半纤维素的取代度（DS）和所用介质的离子强度是影响其在造纸湿端性能的两个最重要和至关重要的因素。其中，在各种离子强度的水性介质中，系统地研究了玉米芯衍生的阳离子木聚糖（CX）的DS对纤维网络强度的影响。最初，通过微波辅助方法合成了一系列DS范围为0.051至0.113的CX。所得的CX作为湿端添加剂应用在电导率分别为500、2500和5000μs/ cm的介质中，分别代表封闭白水循环中电解质的低，中和高水平。与对照相比，所有CX均显着提高了纸张的拉伸强度和撕裂强度，而没有破裂强度。中等电导率对CXs的性能有不利影响，CXs的最佳DS下降到约0.05〜0.06。为了模拟CXs在纤维表面的吸附，通过SPR监测CXs在带负电的金传感器上的吸附行为，试图揭示其机理。发现具有低DS的CX具有更大的吸附能力，更厚和更柔软的吸附层，这有利于纤维粘合和纸张强度。这项研究对木聚糖在增值产品中的应用以及对农业和林业废物的增值具有重要意义。中等电导率对CXs的性能有不利影响，CXs的最佳DS下降到约0.05〜0.06。为了模拟CXs在纤维表面的吸附，通过SPR监测CXs在带负电的金传感器上的吸附行为，试图揭示其机理。发现具有低DS的CX具有更大的吸附能力，更厚和更柔软的吸附层，这有利于纤维粘合和纸张强度。这项研究对木聚糖在增值产品中的应用以及对农业和林业废物的增值具有重要意义。中等电导率对CXs的性能有不利影响，CXs的最佳DS下降到约0.05〜0.06。为了模拟CXs在纤维表面的吸附，通过SPR监测CXs在带负电的金传感器上的吸附行为，试图揭示其机理。发现具有低DS的CX具有更大的吸附能力，更厚和更柔软的吸附层，这有利于纤维粘合和纸张强度。这项研究对木聚糖在增值产品中的应用以及对农业和林业废物的增值具有重要意义。通过SPR监测CXs在带负电的金传感器上的吸附行为，试图揭示其机理。发现具有低DS的CX具有更大的吸附能力，更厚和更柔软的吸附层，这有利于纤维粘合和纸张强度。这项研究对木聚糖在增值产品中的应用以及对农业和林业废物的增值具有重要意义。通过SPR监测CXs在带负电的金传感器上的吸附行为，试图揭示其机理。发现具有低DS的CX具有更大的吸附能力，更厚和更柔软的吸附层，这有利于纤维粘合和纸张强度。这项研究对木聚糖在增值产品中的应用以及对农业和林业废物的增值具有重要意义。