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Investigation and Benefits of the Use of Enzymes for Unbleached Kraft Recycling Wet Strength Paper at Lab and Industrial Scale



Author(s)

Audrey Bajul-Baradon, Terence Nguema-Nkili, Anais Sanfaute and Gilles Bajul

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DOI:10.17265/2161-6213/2023.10-12.001

CELODEV SAS, 9 rue des Verriats,51500 CHAMPFLEURY, France

The deterioration of recycled fibers especially unbleached kraft with high wet strength resin content due to the irreversible structural changes caused by drying and added chemicals makes the raw material difficult to repulp. The mechanical effect in the pulper over time with chemical treatment has a negative impact on the recycled fibers. At lab scale, different compositions of enzymatic treatment C022L were under investigation to select the most efficient laccase Lacc1, Lacc2 or Lacc3 and to observe the impact of lipases during repulping at low and high consistencies. Pulp disintegration at different times was evaluated to define the level of rejects and to analyze the morphology of fibers after treatments. These results were more significant for Lacc2, by increasing the pulp consistency to 15% in the pulper. Combining lipases with CELODASE 022L appeared to decrease the efficiency of enzymes. The results showed a high reduction of energy power with the enzymatic treatment and a significant reduction of fines level in fibers’ suspension. The most efficient version of C022L was used at industrial scale to compare directly with the standard conditions used in a paper mill.

Energy, enzymes, recycling, unbleached kraft paper, wet strength resin.