Enzymes as tools in pulp and paper processing and product design

Enhancing the efficiency of pulp and papermaking processes and upgrading the properties of wood fibre products are constant challenges for the pulp and paper industry. Enzyme technologies can provide tools for both more efficient pulp and paper processes and adding value to fibre based products. Presently, lignocellulose modifying enzymes are used for improving pulp and paper processing. In future, these enzymes are expected to be increasingly used for modification and transformation reactions improving the properties of fibre based products. Today, the most important commercialized applications of enzymes in the pulp and paper manufacturing are xylanase-aided bleaching, cellulase enhanced refining, enzyme-aided deinking, improvement of paper-machine runnability by hydrolysis of extractives or enhanced drainage by enzymatic treatments, and fiber modification for speciality products. The implementation of economically and technically viable biotechnical stages or treatments to mill scale operation is, however, always a challenge. Innovative exploitation of biotechnology in pulp and paper production also offers potential means for targeted tailoring of fibre products. Targeted fibre modification reflects the trend of using biotechnical means for product design rather than for process improvement. In the future, the most potential applications of biotechnical fibre modification methods can be envisaged in the targeted modification of fibre properties for the needs of both traditional and completely novel industrial applications.