Method of cleaning papermaking felts with enzymes
AssigneeNorth Carolina State University
InventorsJohn A. Heitmann, Jr., Thomas W. Joyce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of treating a felt to remove contaminants therein comprises the steps of providing a felt used in transporting paper webs, preparing an enzyme solution comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a cellulase, a hemicellulase, and mixtures thereof, applying the enzyme solution to the felt for a first predetermined period of time, rinsing the felt with water, applying a solution of sodium hydroxide to the felt to remove the enzyme solution, and rinsing the felt with water to remove the sodium hydroxide solution thereby removing the contaminants in the felt.
Claims5
A method of treating a felt to remove contaminants therein, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a felt used in transporting paper webs;
- a preparing an enzyme solution comprising an enzyme selected from the group consisting of a cellulase, a hemicellulase, and mixtures thereof, said enzyme solution having a first pH of 4.9;
- applying said enzyme solution to said felt for a first predetermined period of time wherein said first pH of said enzyme solution changes from 4.9 to 5.5 after said first predetermined period of time;
- rinsing said felt with distilled water at a first temperature;
- applying a solution of sodium hydroxide to said felt to remove said enzyme solution;
- and
- rinsing said felt with tap water to remove said solution of sodium hydroxide, thereby removing said contaminants present therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.