Modification of high lignin content kraft pulps with laccase to improve paper strength properties. 1. Laccase treatment in the presence of gallic acid.
Laccase was reacted with gallic acid in the presence of a high-kappa (91) kraft pulp. The result was a modified pulp with 34%, 20%, and 72% improvements in burst, tensile, and wet tensile strength compared to untreated control samples. Fully bleached pulps were not responsive to the laccase treatment, indicating lignin was the major target for the fiber modification. The results indicate that the strength increases were a combined effect of improvements of hydrogen bonding between fibers and creation of phenoxy radical cross-links within the sheet.
Chandra
Richard P
RP
Institute of Paper Science and Technology, 500 10th Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, USA.
Lehtonen
Lauri K
LK
Ragauskas
Arthur J
AJ
D005707:Gallic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D042845:Laccase / Q000737:chemistry*; D008031:Lignin / Q000737:chemistry*; D008420:Manufactured Materials / Q000032:analysis; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D010209:Paper; D013718:Tensile Strength
D005707:Gallic Acid; D008031:Lignin; D042845:Laccase