Bringing new properties to lignin rich fiber materials

A new method to enhance the native surface properties of lignin rich fibers or even to bring completely novel properties to these fiber materials has been developed at VTT.The method is based on enzymatic fiber activation combined with either enzymatic or chemo-enzymatic functionalization, or bonding of selected chemical component, to lignin rich fiber materials.Study of the activation of wood pulp fibers showed that various factors including pulp type, enzyme dosage and treatment conditions affect the radical formation in pulp material.Bonding of the chemical functionalities to activated pulps was successful both by enzymatic and chemical means.Various properties such as charge, hydrophobicity, and conductivity of lignin rich fiber materials could be modified by the chemo-enzymatic functionalisation method.For effective exploitation of the potential of the enzyme-based method, both understanding of the activation and bonding mechanisms and optimisation of the targeted fiber modification for the customer's needs is essential.