Biomechanical pulping of Agave sisalana

The effect of biological pretreatment of sisal with several white rot fungi on the energy consumption in refining and on the mechanical properties of the pulps was evaluated in this investigation. Improvements were realized i n all the mechanical properties (22-66%) and a reduction in the energy cons umption of >39% was realized for the treated pulps with the different fungi . The best strength improvement and energy reduction results overall were o btained with the white-rot fungus, Ceriporiopsis subvermispora. The incubat ion time was optimized for this fungus with the optimum mechanical properti es obtained with a two week treatment time.