ENZYMES IMPROVE THE BLEACHABILITY OF BAGASSE MECHANICAL PULP

Two crude enzyme preparations wee tested for their potential to enhanc e the bleachability of bagasse mechanical pulp. Enzyme preparations we re obtained from fungi growing on wet bagasse in bulk storage. Pulp br ightness after bleaching with hydrogen peroxide was 2-3 points higher for the enzyme-treated pulp than for an untreated control pulp. Streng th properties of the enzyme-treated pulps were comparable with the con trol. Various chemical pretreatments wee tested in an effort to enhanc e the enzyme treatment. Conventional chemicals had little effect, but a two-stage enzyme treatment-xylanase followed by treatment with one o f the tested enzymes-boosted the bleached brightness by an additional 1.3 points.