Objective
The overall aim of this project is to develop lignin degrading enzyme systems that can be used to improve the delignification, a key step in the pulp and paper manufacturing process.
The specific aims of this project are to study and optimize the action of the lignin modifying enzymes on different types of lignins in the fibre matrices and to develop new totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching methods as well as mechanical refining methods with decreased energy consumption. Special emphasis is in the control of the enzymatic reaction in such a way that the lignin substrate is depolymerized or that repolymerization is prevented. The enzymes should enhance the reactivity of pulp lignin towards bleaching with oxygen based chemicals and, int he most successful case, even replace them. Furthermore, it would be of great advantage if the enzymes developed would operate at a wide pH-range, about pH 3-8, and at a temperature range of 60-85 C to enable the economic application of enzymes in conventional mill conditions.
Therefore, new enzymes, better suited for industrial conditions will be developed. The production of these new enzymes will be optimized in order to be able to develop economically feasible production systems. The feasibility of the new bleaching sequences will be assessed by industrial partners.
Topic(s)
Funding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contracts
Coordinator
1060 Vienna
Austria
Participants (10)
36157 Pontevedra
8101 Gratkorn
891 80 Örnsköldsvik
02044 VTT Espoo
37601 Valkeakoski
Cork
00014 Helsinki
67663 Kaiserslautern
50121 Firenze
6703 HD Wageningen
