EVALUATING 3 IRON-BASED BIOMIMETIC COMPOUNDS FOR THEIR SELECTIVITY INA POLYMERIC MODEL SYSTEM FOR PULP

The ability of fungal enzymes to degrade lignin has suggested the stud y of simpler compounds to mimic these enzymes. Attempts to bleach pulp with biomimetic compounds have not demonstrated that these compounds are selective catalysts for pulp delignification. This paper evaluates the selectivity of three biomimetric systems: ferrous sulfate, ferrou s ion chelated with EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), and hemogl obin, all in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. Lignosulfonate and hyd roxyethyl cellulose (HEC) were chosen as polymeric models for lignin a nd carbohydrate. When these substrates were individually exposed to ea ch biomimetic compound in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, substanti al degradation to both lignin and carbohydrate model compounds was obs erved, Hemoglobin was the most selective for lignosulfonate degradatio n over HEC degradation.