ENZYME-ASSISTED BLEACHING OF BAGASSE

TNPL 192, a thermophilic fungus, produces an extracellular xylanase fr ee from cellulase. It was isolated from eight-month-old, wet bulk stor ed bagasse. The isolate produces xylanase abundantly on bagasse, a nat urally occurring, cheap lignocellulosic material. The crude enzyme pre paration is capable of improving the bleachability of kraft pulps prod uced from both hardwoods and bagasse. The present work evaluates the e fficacy of a hemicellulase preparation produced from the fungus growin g on bagasse in comparison to the commercially available xylaneses wit h respect to achieving high brightness without affecting paper propert ies.