Method and composition for enzymatic treatment of fiber for papermaking, and paper products made therewith

Abstract

A method is provided for controlling organic contaminants, such as xylans, pitch or both, that interfere with bleaching of fibers and/or cause other interference(s) in papermaking systems. The method includes contacting fibers before any bleaching thereof with a composition which contains a hemicellulolytic enzyme and an organic contaminant removal adjuvant to liberate the organic contaminants from the fibers. The treated fibers can then be bleached and further used, for example, in making paper. The present invention also relates to the treatment compositions and to paper products made with fiber materials treated with these compositions. A method of enhancing enzymatic degradation of a substrate as well as formulations and systems for achieving the same are also provided. Various substrates can be degraded or otherwise processed, including biomass, paper mill sludge, and animal hides. Enzymatic degradation can be enhanced by including one or more polymeric surfactants.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.