Properties of Fiber Made With Biopulped Wood

摘要

Biopulping, the process of pretreating chips with fungus before mechanical pulping, results in significant energy savings and improved sheet strength. It has been assumed that biopulping fungi cause these changes by enzymatic depolymerization of lignin. This work presents constituent sugar analyses and titrations that suggest hydroxyl radicals may be used by Ceriporiopsis subvermispora to accomplish biopulping. Increases in acid groups within the fiber account for some of the property improvements observed in biopulped fiber.