Activation of softwood Kraft pulp at high solids content by endoglucanase and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase

Sara Ceccherini*, Jenni Rahikainen, Kaisa Marjamaa, Daisuke Sawada, Stina Grönqvist, Thad Maloney

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleScientificpeer-review

17 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The manufacturing of man-made cellulose fibers starts with the dissolution of wood pulp fibers. Pulps can dissolve at different rates and leave different amounts of undissolved particles. Thus, their properties can be modified to achieve better dissolution. Enzymatic treatments are an effective means of enhancing pulp dissolution, and this study compares the effect of endoglucanase (TrCel45A) and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase (LPMO, TrAA9A) on bleached softwood Kraft pulp at 20 % solids content. The enzymes were applied individually and in combination. Both enzymes increased fibrillation, fines content, porosity, water retention value, crystallinity index and crystallite size, but the largest changes were achieved with the enzyme mixture. For example, fiber saturation point and water retention value increased by 64 and 37 % with TrCel45A, by 27 and 25 % with TrAA9A, and by 73 and 52 % with both TrCel45A and TrAA9A. Pulp reactivity was indirectly assessed by measuring the dissolution time in cupriethylenediamine. The average dissolution time of the reference pulp measured 642 s, while those of the pulps treated with TrCel45A, TrAA9A and their mixture were 399, 473 and 298 s, respectively. The decrease in dissolution time correlated with the increase in fines, fibrillation, porosity, and water retention value.

Original languageEnglish
Article number113463
JournalIndustrial Crops and Products
Volume166
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2021
MoE publication typeA1 Journal article-refereed

Funding

The authors acknowledge the funding support by the Academy of Finland (grants n:o 277791 and 279255 ) for the project “Development of porosity at high solids loading in the early stages of fibre treatment by cellulose-active enzymes”. The work of VTT was partially done in CLIC Innovation project NewFP funded by Business Finland. In addition, we are grateful for the support provided by the FinnCERES Materials Bioeconomy Ecosystem (Academy of Finland) , Aalto University , and the Finnish Association of Forest Products Engineers (Puunjalostusinsinöörit ry).

Keywords

  • Activation
  • Endoglucanase
  • LPMO
  • Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase
  • Pulp reactivity

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Activation of softwood Kraft pulp at high solids content by endoglucanase and lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this