# US 8,784,613 B2 · Method and composition for enzymatic treatment of fiber for papermaking, and paper products made therewith > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,784,613 B2 - Document ID: US8784613B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/080,839 - Filed: 2013-11-15 - Published: 2014-03-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-10-27 - Assignees: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. - Applicants: Buckman Laboratories International, Inc. - Inventors: Stephen D. Bryant; Kevin J. MacDonald; Bernard Janse; Xiangdong Zhou; Philip Hoekstra; Daniel E. Glover - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784613B2 ## CPC - D21C 9/123: {with Cl2O} - D21C 5/005: {Treatment of cellulose-containing material with microorganisms or enzymes} - D21C 9/086: {with organic compounds or compositions comprising organic compounds} - D21C 9/1005: {Pretreatment of the pulp, e.g. degassing the pulp} - D21C 9/1036: {Use of compounds accelerating or improving the efficiency of the processes} - D21C: PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE BY REMOVING NON-CELLULOSE SUBSTANCES FROM CELLULOSE-CONTAINING MATERIALS; REGENERATION OF PULPING LIQUORS; APPARATUS THEREFOR ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling organic contaminants which interfere with bleaching of fibers in papermaking systems, comprising: a) contacting, prior to any bleaching step, the fibers with a composition comprising at least one hemicellulolytic enzyme and at least one organic contaminant removal adjuvant to provide treated fibers from which organic contaminants liberate from the fibers in greater amount than wherein the fibers are contacted with the composition without said organic contaminant removal adjuvant, wherein the organic contaminants comprise one or more xylans, one or more pitch components, or both; and b) bleaching the treated fibers to form bleached fibers. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: c) forming the bleached fibers into a paper product. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the paper product has an ISO Brightness that is from about 0.5 units to about 5.0 units higher than a paper product produced with the method without said organic contaminant removal adjuvant included in the composition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said contacting removes at least 50% by weight of total xylans and pitch components present in the fibers prior to said contacting. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said bleaching comprises contacting the treated fibers with a bleaching agent that is chlorine dioxide, hydrogen peroxide, oxygen, elemental chlorine, hypochlorite, ozone, or any combinations thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said organic contaminant removal adjuvant is at least one nonionic surfactant. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said organic contaminant removal adjuvant is a poloxamer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said organic contaminant removal adjuvant is a poloxamer having an HLB value of 16 or more. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the hemicellulolytic enzyme is xylanase, mannanase, or both. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a lipolytic enzyme. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the composition further comprises a lipolytic enzyme that is lipase, esterase, cutinase, or any combinations thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said composition is introduced in an amount providing from about 100 to about 1,000 grams of said hemicellulolytic enzyme per ton of said fibers on a dry fiber basis, and from about 2.0 to about 100 grams of said organic contaminant removal adjuvant per ton of said fibers on dry fiber basis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein said fibers treated with said composition have a Kappa number that is from about 0.2 to about 3.0 units lower than fibers untreated with said composition.