# US 5,705,383 A · Pitch and lignin degradation with white rot fungi

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- Number: US 5,705,383 A
- Document ID: US5705383A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/536,536
- Filed: 1995-09-29
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-03-19
- Assignees: Clariant Finance (BVI) Limited
- Inventors: Robert A. Blanchette; Sara Iverson; Chad J. Behrendt
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705383A

## CPC

- C12P 1/02: by using fungi
- C12N 1/145: Fungi isolates
- D21B 1/021: {by chemical means}
- D21C 1/00: Pretreatment of the finely-divided materials before digesting (of waste paper D21C5/02)
- D21C 5/005: {Treatment of cellulose-containing material with microorganisms or enzymes}
- D21C 9/08: Removal of fats, resins, pitch or waxes; {Chemical or physical purification, i.e. refining, of crude cellulose by removing non-cellulosic contaminants, optionally combined with bleaching (fats, waxes C11B; natural resins C09F1/00; hemicellulose C08B37/14; purification by mechanical means D21D5/00)}
- C12R 2001/645: Fungi {; Processes using fungi}
- Y10S 162/04: Pitch control
- Y10S 435/911: using fungi
- C12P: FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE {(brewing of beer C12C; producing vinegar C12J; producing specific peptides or proteins C07K; producing enzymes C12N9/00; DNA or RNA concerning genetic engineering, vectors, e.g. plasmids, or their isolation, preparation or purification C12N15/00; measuring or testing processes involving enzymes or microorganisms C12Q; measuring or testing processes involving nucleic acid amplification reactions C12Q1/6844; fermentation processes to form a food composition, A21 or A23; compounds in general, see the relevant compound class, e.g. C01, C07)}
- C12N: MICROORGANISMS OR ENZYMES; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF; PROPAGATING, PRESERVING, OR MAINTAINING MICROORGANISMS; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING; CULTURE MEDIA (microbiological testing media C12Q1/00)
- D21B: FIBROUS RAW MATERIALS OR THEIR MECHANICAL TREATMENT
- D21C: PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR
- C12R: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES C12C - C12Q, RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

The present invention relates to the use of certain fungi in the reduction of the pitch and/or lignin content of cellulosic materials. In particular, the white rot fungi Schizophyllum commune, Trichaptum biforme and Phanerochaete gigantea are useful in reducing pitch and/or lignin, or both, which saves electrical energy during the mechanical refining of pulps and pulpwoods used in making cellulosic products.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of reducing electrical energy consumption during the mechanical refining of logs into pulp comprising inoculating the ends of the log with a pitch reducing effective amount of at least one Basidiomycetes fungus selected from the group consisting of Schizophyllum commune, Tricaptum biforme and Phanerochaete gigantea, and allowing the fungus to grow on and into the log ends for a time sufficient to reduce pitch in the logs.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the log ends are inoculated in no more than two weeks after cutting of the tree from which the log is obtained.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the log ends are inoculated in no more than one week after cutting of the tree from which the log is obtained.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 in which the lengthwise undebarked surfaces of the log is treated with an effective amount of an insecticide against bark beetles.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 in which the fungus is inoculated in conjunction with an adjuvant to promote germination and growth of the inoculated fungus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5 in which the adjuvant is carboxymethylcellulose.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the log is debarked and the debarked surfaces are treated with a pitch reducing effective amount of the growing fungus.

### Claim 8 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3 in which the log ends are inoculated in no more than two days after cutting of the tree from which the log is obtained.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 in which the log is converted to refined pulpwood prior to inoculation.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9 wherein the refined pulpwood is wood chips.