Energy reduction of refining by cellulases
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Michael Lecourt
Abstract
The effect of three different commercial cellulase treatments applied on softwood bleached kraft pulp before the refining step was studied. Disc refining was applied under similar conditions as usual in paper mills. Two cellulase treatments allowed an energy saving of 20% to reach a given drainage index or breaking length. Water retention value (WRV), which characterizes the water absorption inside the fibre wall, was increased by the cellulase treatment. However, tear index losses were observed upon enzyme treatment. The third cellulase did not have an impact either on any parameters of the refining or on the pulp properties, except WRV. Viscosity measurements showed that the two first cellulases have strong endoglucanase activities but are lacking exoglucanase activities. Probably, endoglucanase activity weakens the fibre structure by generation of weak points or kinks. This hypothesis would explain the important cutting and fibrillation phenomena observed in the case of these two cellulases. It can be concluded that cellulase treatment could save 20% of electrical energy needed for refining, i.e., 50 kWh t-1, if a paper quality with a high tensile resistance but lowered tear strength is acceptable.
©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York
Articles in the same Issue
- Original Papers
- Pre-extraction of hemicelluloses and subsequent ASA and ASAM pulping: Comparison of autohydrolysis and alkaline extraction
- Effect of drying and rewetting of wood on cellulose molecular packing
- Determination of native (wood derived) formaldehyde by the desiccator method in particleboards generated during panel production
- A computational study of pyrolysis reactions of lignin model compounds
- Energy reduction of refining by cellulases
- Macro- and micro-mechanical properties of red oak wood (Quercus rubra L.) treated with hemicellulases
- Acoustic emission measurements and lattice simulations of microfracture events in spruce
- Impact of organosilicon treatments on the wood-water relationship of solid wood
- Analysis of the water vapour sorption behaviour of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bongard) Carr.] based on the parallel exponential kinetics model
- Effects of modification with glutaraldehyde on the mechanical properties of wood
- Effect of glutaraldehyde on water related properties of solid wood
- Creep behavior of bamboo under various desorption conditions
- Predicting the longitudinal modulus of elasticity of Sitka spruce from cellulose orientation and abundance
- Examination of the mode I critical stress intensity factor of wood obtained by single-edge-notched bending test
- Potential Brazilian wood species for bows of string instruments
- Non-destructive assessment of green density and moisture condition in plantation-grown radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don.) by increment core measurements
- Development of wood decay in wound-initiated discolored wood of eastern red cedar
- The effects of subthreshold loadings of tebuconazole, DDAC, and boric acid on wood decay by Postia placenta
- Short Notes
- New aspects of residual lignin isolation
- Personalia
- Horst H. Nimz celebrated his 80th birthday on April 21st, 2010
- Meetings
- Meetings
Articles in the same Issue
- Original Papers
- Pre-extraction of hemicelluloses and subsequent ASA and ASAM pulping: Comparison of autohydrolysis and alkaline extraction
- Effect of drying and rewetting of wood on cellulose molecular packing
- Determination of native (wood derived) formaldehyde by the desiccator method in particleboards generated during panel production
- A computational study of pyrolysis reactions of lignin model compounds
- Energy reduction of refining by cellulases
- Macro- and micro-mechanical properties of red oak wood (Quercus rubra L.) treated with hemicellulases
- Acoustic emission measurements and lattice simulations of microfracture events in spruce
- Impact of organosilicon treatments on the wood-water relationship of solid wood
- Analysis of the water vapour sorption behaviour of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bongard) Carr.] based on the parallel exponential kinetics model
- Effects of modification with glutaraldehyde on the mechanical properties of wood
- Effect of glutaraldehyde on water related properties of solid wood
- Creep behavior of bamboo under various desorption conditions
- Predicting the longitudinal modulus of elasticity of Sitka spruce from cellulose orientation and abundance
- Examination of the mode I critical stress intensity factor of wood obtained by single-edge-notched bending test
- Potential Brazilian wood species for bows of string instruments
- Non-destructive assessment of green density and moisture condition in plantation-grown radiata pine (Pinus radiata D. Don.) by increment core measurements
- Development of wood decay in wound-initiated discolored wood of eastern red cedar
- The effects of subthreshold loadings of tebuconazole, DDAC, and boric acid on wood decay by Postia placenta
- Short Notes
- New aspects of residual lignin isolation
- Personalia
- Horst H. Nimz celebrated his 80th birthday on April 21st, 2010
- Meetings
- Meetings
