Enzymatic treatment of pulp to increase strength using truncated hydrolytic enzymes
AssigneeKimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
InventorsWerner Franz Wilhelm Lonsky, Alberto Ricardo Negri
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Papermaking fibers are treated with certain hydrolytic enzymes, specifically including cellulases, such as truncated endo-glucanases, which have been freed of their cellulose binding domain, to generate aldehyde groups at or near the surface of the fibers. Paper sheets made from the resulting fibers exhibit improved strength characteristics relative to paper sheets made from untreated fibers.
Claims24
A method of treating papermaking fibers comprising mixing an aqueous suspension of papermaking fibers and one or more truncated hydrolytic enzymes capable of randomly hydrolyzing cellulose and/or hemicellulose in an amount of from about 5000 to about 200,000 ECU per kilogram of fiber, wherein the dry tensile strength of handsheets made with the treated fibers, as compared to the dry tensile strength of handsheets made with untreated fibers, is increased about 40 percent or greater without the assistance of any other supplemental additives or mechanical action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.