Cellulose nanofibrils (CNF) were prepared by cellulase in conjunction with mechanical disintegration from the bleached softwood kraft pulp and labelled by Congo red dye. The labelled CNF were used to investigate the retention and distribution of CNF in paper handsheets. The retention of the labelled CNF was obtained by measuring the absorbance of white water using an ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometer. The results showed that this method for measuring the retention was rapid, feasible, and sensitive, owing to the high correlation coefficient R2 (0.9993) of the standard curve. The labelled CNF showed even distribution in paper handsheets. The colorimetric values of paper handsheets were explored with a residual ink analyzer.
