Bleaching of Kraft Pulp with Xylanase and Laccase-Mediator System

Xylanase (X) derived from Aurreobasidium pullulans and laccase-mediator system (LM) using Trichophyton sp. LKY-7 laccase (TrL) and N-hydroxy-2-pyridone analogue (NHP) as a mediator were applied in hardwood kraft pulp (HwKP) bleaching. The individual and the synergistic effects of X and LM stage were investigated in the enzymatic bleaching of HwKP. Also, the effects of subsequent alkaline extraction (E) and alkaline/hydrogen peroxide treatment (P) were examined. In X or LM treatment alone, an appreciable bleaching effect of HwKP was not observed, whereas subsequent E or P stage enhanced the increase of brightness and the decrease of kappa number. Especially, P stage significantly enhanced the bleaching effect of pulp. Bleaching of HwKP with XLM sequentially gave significantly higher pulp brightness and lower kappa number than that obtained after the treatment of HwKP with X+LM simultaneously. When HwKP was sequentially treated with XLM followed by P stage, the brightness increased by about 11% ISO and the kappa number decreased by about 3.6 in comparison with the initial pulp. Xylanase and laccase were strongly inactivated by NHP both in the absence and the presence of pulp.