Evaluation of the Effect of Endoglucanase Refining on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Paper Made from OCC Pulp

Abstract

In this study, the effect of enzymatic refining with endoglucanase was investigated on the physical and mechanical properties of OCC pulp. Collected OCC pulps were pre-treated with different endoglucanse dosages (1u, 2u and 3u on o.d. pulp) under constant conditions and then refined at different levels. The effect of different enzyme dosages and refining levels were evaluated separately on the paper physical and mechanical of properties, as compared to control pulp (non treated pulp with enzyme). In unrefined pulps, the results have shown that adding enzyme up to 1u caused to improve the physical and mechanical properties as significant (confidence level of 95%), compared to control pulp. However using more than 1u endoglucanase resulted in a significant decrease in both physical and mechanical properties. Achieved results from the effect of different enzyme dosages and refining levels showed that in refined pulps, increase of enzyme level caused to produce a bulky paper and decrease of mechanical properties. In general, the best physical and mechanical properties were obtained using 1u endoglucanase at different refining levels applied.

Keywords

• OCC pulp
• endoglucanase enzyme
• Pulp refining
• Physical properties
• Mechanical properties