Abstract: A method for making dissolving pulp from cellulosic fiber. The fiber is treated with a 3-stage sequence having a first alkali extraction stage, a xylanase treatment stage, and a second alkali extraction stage. Having the xylanase treatment stage sandwiched between 2 alkali extraction stages results in the dissolving pulp exhibiting both a very low xylan content of about 2.6% by weight or less and a very low mannan content of about 1.5% by weight or less. The low contents of these 2 components cannot be achieved with comparison treatments of only an alkali extraction stage, only a xylanase treatment stage, or only 2 stages of a xylanase treatment stage and an alkali extraction stage.

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.