Activity of laccase on unbleached and bleached thermomechanical pulp

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 439 - 445
• Main Authors: Grönqvist, S., Buchert, J., Rantanen, K., Viikari, L., Suurnäkki, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 03.03.2003; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Activation of fibres; Activity of laccase on pulp; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Enzyme engineering; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Laccase; Methods. Procedures. Technologies; Miscellaneous; Activity of laccase on pulp; Activation of fibres; Laccase; Enzymatic treatment; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme; Industrial application; Fiber; Thermomechanical pulp; Chemical composition; Oxidoreductases; Paper industry
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/S0141-0229(02)00319-8

The introduction of value-added properties to pulp fibres is an attractive proposition. One interesting option is targeted modification of fibre surfaces by enzymatic activation. In this work, the activity of laccase on pulp and pulp fractions from thermomechanical pulp (TMP) and peroxide bleached TMP was studied on the basis of consumption of the co-substrate oxygen in the reaction and by studying the formation of radicals in the pulp material as analysed by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy (EPR). Laccases obtained from Trametes hirsuta and Myceliophthora thermophila were used in the study. Laccases were found to be active on pulp material of unbleached TMP, whereas only fines from bleached TMP reacted in laccase treatment. Dissolved and colloidal substances (DCS) were assumed to have a mediating role in the laccase-catalysed oxidation of the fibre-bound material.