In this work the effects of individual purified cellulases of Trichode
rma reesei were studied in the enzyme-aided bleaching of kraft pulps.
The cellobiohydrolases I and II, when used alone, had no positive effe
ct on the bleachability of kraft pulps. The endoglucanase I (EG I), ho
wever, acted on pulp similarly to xylanases and with an enzyme dosage
of 0.1 mg/g a clear increase in pulp brightness could be observed. Due
to the unspecificity of this enzyme, the viscosity of the pulp was si
multaneously decreased. Of the cellulases, EG II was clearly most detr
imental in reducing the pulp viscosity. Hence, the action of purified
cellulases of T. reesei on pulp as a substrate differs profoundly, and
all cellulases are not detrimental to the pulp properties.