Understanding alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) size reversion due to autooxidation

Alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) is a sizing agent. The wettability of paperboard decreases when ASA applied. efficacy in board can be reversed under certain conditions, making the paper more hydrophilic and lesser quality/value. Although it broadly known that size reversion due to autooxidation presence oxygen air, environmental parameters initiate or catalyze this reaction are not well understood. Six different experimental set ups were used understand how temperature, daylight, fluorescent light, ultravio-let (UV) darkness affect oxidation ASA. Cobb values pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrom-etry (Py-GCMS) results show simple oxidation. was found significantly light dependent. Temperature variations have moderate effect on chemical stability.