Laccase-mediated coupling of nonpolar chains for the hydrophobization of lignocellulose.

We investigate the use of laccase enzymes to couple short nonpolar chains containing aromatic groups onto flax fibers and nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) with different lignin contents. Trametes villosa , Pycnoporus cinnabarinus , and Myceliophthora thermophila were used to facilitate surface coupling and to produce materials with different levels of hydrophobicity. Heat treatment of fiber webs after lacccase-mediated coupling markedly increased the resistance to water absorption.

A new procedure for the hydrophobization of cellulose fibre using laccase and a hydrophobic phenolic compound.

A new biotechnological procedure using laccase in combination with a hydrophobic phenolic compound (lauryl gallate) for the hydrophobization of cellulose fibres and internal sizing of paper was developed. Cellulose fibres from hardwood kraft pulp were incubated with laccase (Lac), in combination with lauryl gallate (LG). The Lac-LG treatment resulted in the internal sizing of paper, and also in significantly reduced water penetration in the handsheets and wettability of the paper surface.

On hexenuronic acid (HexA) removal and mediator coupling to pulp fiber in the laccase/mediator treatment.

Flax soda/AQ pulps were treated with different fungal laccase-mediator combinations followed by physical and chemical characterization of the pulps to obtain a thorough understanding of the laccase/mediator effects on hexenuronic acid (HexA) removal and the coupling of mediator onto pulps for fiber functionalization. Large differences were found and the presence of lauryl gallate (LG) during Trametes villosa laccase (TvL) treatment (TvL+LG) resulted in a much larger reduction of pulp-linked HexA than the combination of p-coumaric acid (PCA) and Pycnoporus cinnabarinus laccase (PcL). A major portion of LG became attached to the pulp as revealed by an increase in the kappa number and further confirmed by thioacidolysis and (1)H NMR analysis of solubilized pulp fractions.

Enzymatic treatments of pulp using laccase and hydrophobic compounds.

The aim of this work was to develop an innovative method for the internal sizing of paper by use of laccase and hydrophobic compounds. Nine different products containing hydrophobic moieties were tested in combination with laccase derived from Trametes villosa on Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulp in order to assess their internal sizing capability. The strongest internal sizing effect was obtained with lauryl gallate (LG).