In order to evaluate the possibilities of using enzymes for pre-treating softwood chips as a means of lowering the energy demand in mechanical pulping, impregnation and refining trials were performed using a set of different enzymes. The enzymes tested pectinase, xylanase and mannanase gave increased sugar release in the impregnation trials indicating that most of the sugar released occurred in the first 60 minutes and that activities thereafter seemed to level off. Refining trials using a small Wing refiner showed that for chips treated for 60 minutes with pectinase, xylanase and mannanase no energy savings to a given freeness level was observed. The property development was similar to that of reference pulps in the case of pectinase and xylanase while for chips treated with mannanase a less favourable development of the tensile index was noted. For chips treated for two hours, using xylanase or pectinase, energy savings could be observed for pectinase treated chips down to a freeness level of 200 CSF. However when refined further, the properties approached those of the reference pulp. Considering the much higher enzymatic activity reached when the initial fibre material was further disintegrated it is assumed that the possibilities for enzymes to attack desired structures of the intact fibre wall may have been too few even in the case of Impressafiner treated material.
展开▼
