Abstract: A deinking method using a cellulase which enables the load upon the environment to be reduced; and an evaluation method whereby a cellulase effective in deinking and the effective addition level of the cellulase can be appropriately determined. By proposing pulp-swelling activity (PSA) that elevates the water-retention value of pulp after pulp is reacted with cellulase, it becomes possible to select an enzyme that is effective in cellulase-deinking treatment without lowering the paper strength and to determine the effective enzyme dosage. Namely, a method of deinking waste paper is provided wherein the selection of an effective cellulase and the optimization of the enzyme dosage with the use of PSA as an indication make it possible to minimize the cellulase addition level and lessen the amount of the deinking agent.

Abstract: Genes encoding novel cellulases, and a gene encoding a protein that facilitates the action of such novel cellulases, the novel cellulases and a protein that facilitates the action of such cellulases, and enzyme preparations containing such proteins are described. The native hosts and the culture medium of said hosts containing said novel cellulases are also disclosed. These proteins are especially useful in the textile and detergent industry and in pulp and paper industry.

Abstract: The present invention relates to novel cellulase enzymes, especially novel endoglucanases including endoglucanase fusion proteins, preparations and compositions containing these endoglucanase enzymes and fusion proteins, expression vectors, host cells and methods for their preparation and uses of the cellulases, preparations and compositions in the textile, detergent and pulp and paper industries.

Abstract: An enzyme exhibiting endo-?-1,4-glucanase activity which belongs to family 9 of glycosyl hydrolases is obtainable from or endogeneous to a strain belonging to the genus Bacillus such as Bacillus licheniformis, ATCC 14580; an isolated polynucleotide (DNA) molecule encoding an enzyme or enzyme core (the catalytically active domain of the enzyme) exhibiting endo-?-1,4-glucanase activity selected from (a) polynucleotide molecules comprising a nucleotide sequence as shown in SEQ ID NO:1 from nucleotide 76 to nucleotide 1455 or from nucleotide 76 to nucleotide 1941, (b) polynucleotide molecules that encode a polypeptide being at least 75% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 from amino acid residue 26 to amino acid 485 or from amino acid residue 26 to amino acid residue 646, and (c) degenerate nucleotide sequences of (a) or (b), the expressed endoglucanase enzyme being useful in various industrial applications.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a process for decomposing vegetable waste materials easily, which solves problems such as the problem of treatment costs, the problem of energy, an environmental problem and the problem of time for treatment which are difficult to be solved by prior art. The present invention provides an agent for decomposing plant fibrous materials, which contains plant fibrous materials decomposing enzymes derived from a microorganism, but not the microorganism. In addition, the present invention provides a process for treating vegetable waste materials comprising allowing the agent for decomposing plant fibrous materials to act on vegetable waste materials.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pectate lyases comprising the amino acid sequence Asn Leu Asn Ser Arg Val Pro (NLNSRVP) (amino acids 236–242 of SEQ ID NO: 2) belonging to Family 1 of polysaccharide lyases have good performance in industrial processes under neutral or alkaline conditions such as laundering and textile processing. The pectate lyase may be derivable from Bacillus species.

Abstract: In a new process for preparing pulped wood chips for paper making, chips from a hardwood such as eucalyptus are inoculated with aliving culture of one or more white rot fungi. The fungi propagate throughout the body of the wood chip, selectively attacking the lignin of the wood without harming the cellulosic fibers. Subsequent mechanical pulpting results in reduced utilization of energy, improved strength, and reduced cooking time.

Abstract: Methods of making paper or paperboard are described. In one method, at least one cellulytic enzyme composition and at least one cationic polymer composition are introduced to a paper making pulp at about the same time to form a treated pulp. The pulp may also be treated with at least one cationic starch. The resulting pulp is formed into a sheet of pulp. Other paper making processes are also described. A paper making apparatus is also described for carrying out the methods. Paper and paperboard made according to the methods are also described.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a high yield process for producing soluble dietary fiber from corn hull. More specifically, the present invention comprises removing starch and protein with enzymes from corn hull which is by-product of wet-milling process for production of corn starch, extracting the resultant with alkaline solution to form a alkaline extract, treating the alkaline extract with enzymes, and drying the enzyme-treated solution, to produce dietary fiber with low viscosity and containing hemicellulose as a major component at high yield.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for enzymatic treatment of lignocellulosic materials which contain xylan-polymers, such as cellulose kraft pulps. According to a method of the present kind, at least a part of the hexenuronic acid groups present in the material is selectively removed in order to remove metal ions from the pulp, to change the surface charge thereof, to improve the brightness stability of the pulp and to render the material more suitable for enzymatic treatment.

Abstract: Lignocellulose pulp is bleached by bleaching a pulp in aqueous alkali solution with oxygen and treating the pulp with a hemicellulase, while a liquid fraction delivered from the enzyme treatment step is separated from the hemicellulase treated reaction mixture, and subjected to a penetration treatment through a separation membrane, for example, reverse osmosis membrane, to separate a permeated fraction from a non-permeated fraction; the permeated fraction is fed to the alkali-oxygen bleaching (oxygen delignification) step and is used as a liquid medium of the bleaching system.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of certain lipolytic enzymes such as cutinases and lipases in the manufacture of paper and paper products from recycled paper. Examples of such enzymes are derived from strains of Humicola, Candida, Fusarium and Pseudomonas. By use of these enzymes, the problems relating to the so-called “stickies” derived from waste paper are reduced.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for enzymatic preparation of homogentisate (HMO) from 4-hydroxypyruvate (HPP), characterized in that it consists in carrying out in a suitable reaction medium the following enzymatic reactions: enzymatic conversion of HPP into 4-hydroxyphenylacetate (HPA) with a first appropriate enzyme; then an enzymatic conversion of HPA into HMO with a second appropriate enzyme.

Abstract: A method and composition for deinking noncontact-printed wastepaper, particularly xerographic and laser-printed paper, and mixtures of contact and noncontact-printed wastepaper, using an enzyme mixture characterized by a high ratio of &bgr;-glucosidase activity to filter paper units (FPU) activity. The present invention also relates to an assay for evaluating enzymes for use in deinking wastepaper based on the ratio of &bgr;-glucosidase activity to FPU activity.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the treatment, in particular for the roughening, of the surface of hydrated cellulose shaped articles, in which at least one cellulase is allowed to act on the surface and is then inactivated permanently. The tubular films modified in this way are particularly suitable as foodstuff casings, specifically as sausage casings.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing solid materials, particularly building materials, wherein vegetal source material is ground, fermented and at least partially dried. The vegetal source material is ground into fine grains, fermented by adding microorganisms, preferably yeast, and dried. Non-fermenting parts of the vegetal source material are bonded when drying by substances from the microorganisms, so that a solid ecologically safe material can be produced without conventional adhesives.

Abstract: In a new process for preparing pulped wood chips for paper making, chips from a hardwood such as eucalyptus are inoculated with a living culture of one or more white rot fungi. The fungi propagate throughout the body of the wood chip, selectively attacking the lignin of the wood without harming the cellulosic fibers. Subsequent kraft pulping with standard chemicals results in less chemical usage, reduced utilization of energy, improved strength, and reduced cooking time.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for enzymatic treatment of lignocellulosic materials which contain xylan-polymers, such as cellulose kraft pulps. According to a method of the present kind, at least a part of the hexenuronic acid groups present in the material is selectively removed in order to remove metal ions from the pulp, to change the surface charge thereof, to improve the brightness stability of the pulp and to render the material more suitable for enzymatic treatment.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an environment friendly, safe, and efficient four-step method of bio-bleaching Kraft pulp using bacterial strains of accession no. MTCC 5096, MTCC 5094, MTCC 5095, and MTCC 5098, a microbial consortium comprising a synergistic mixture of ligninolytic bacterial isolates of accession no. MTCC 5094, MTCC 5095, and MTCC 5098, bacterial strains of accession Nos. MTCC 5096, MTCC 5094, MTCC 5095, and MTCC 5098, and a process of preparing an inoculum of the bacterial isolate of accession no. MTCC 5096, further, a process for the preparation of a consortium comprising the ligninolytic bacterial isolates of accession nos. MTCC 5094, MTCC 5095, and MTCC 5098, in addition, a process for the preparation of pulp suspension for the bio-bleaching.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing creosote using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one creosote-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the creosote. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for the cultivation of chitin/chirosanrich, filamentous fungi with capacity to assimilate mannose as well as xylose, galactose, and glucose, wherein the cultivation of the filamentous fungi in a liquid medium extracted from wood in the production of paper whereupon the said filamentous fungi are recovered from the medium.

Abstract: Enzyme feed supplements containing fungal cellulase produced by Trichoderma viride are specially adapted for increasing protein digestability of dairy cow and cattle feed. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include enzyme formulations adapted for application to corn and enzyme formulations adapted for application to grain sorghum, to which is added Trichoderma viride cellulase. An increase in protein digestability has been evidenced by increased protein content of milk and increased nitrogen retention from the feed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an enzymatic composition and also to a method for seasoning wood, intended in particular for applications in the food industry. The method consists in immersing green wood in an aqueous solution comprising an enzymatic composition. The wood can subsequently be dried very rapidly in a drying facility. The invention makes it possible to improve the aromatic characteristics of the wood by eliminating certain substances judged to be undesirable due to their astringent nature or bitter nature, and transforming them into neutrally-tasting molecules.

Abstract: A method for producing paper pulp for use in the making of paper from eucalyptus wood chips. The method comprises inoculating wood chips with white rot fungi, fermenting the wood chips so as to cause a propagation of the fungus through the wood chips and allowing the fungus to modify the lignin, and pulping the degraded wood chips by a kraft process.

Abstract: A process for producing paper materials having improved wet strength. This process involves (a) preparing a suspension of unbleached or semi-bleached chemical or semichemical pulp or pulp from recycled fibers; (b) treating the pulp with a phenol-oxidizing enzyme and a mediator; and (c) de-watering the treated pulp in a paper making machine to remove process water and produce the paper material. Preferably, the paper material is heated after the completion of step (c). By the process of the invention, the wet strength of paper materials can be improved without using wet strength resins which makes the product more easily re-used. Further disclosed is a process for producing corrugated paperboard or corrugated containers.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing chromated copper arsenate (CCA) using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one CCA-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the CCA. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of obtaining a cellulose material from corn fiber wherein the method comprises the steps of: (a) heating a mixture of corn fiber and a liquid; (b) contacting the mixture of step (a) with a protease enzyme, thereby providing a proteolyzed corn fiber and a liquid; (c) separating the liquid from the proteolyzed corn fiber; (d) contacting the proteolyzed corn fiber at least once with an alkaline extractant, thereby providing an insoluble cellulose material and a first liquid comprising arabinoxylan; (e) separating the insoluble cellulose material from the first liquid comprising arabinoxylan at a temperature of at or above about 60° C.; and (f) rinsing the insoluble cellulose material to remove essentially all alkali, thereby providing a cellulose material having a cellulose content of at least about 50% and consisting essentially of cellulose I. Cellulose esters and ethers are also prepared from the derivatizable cellulose prepared according to the methods herein.

Abstract: A process for enzymatic treatment comprising an enzyme reaction to obtain an enzyme reaction product by allowing an enzyme to act on a substrate, wherein the enzyme reaction is performed under pressure.

Abstract: New mediators for use in laccase-mediator systems (LMS) are disclosed. The mediators enhance the activity of enzymes exhibiting laccase activity and can be used, for example, to bleach a dye in solution, to oxidize an appropriate compound, or to initiate vinyl or phenol polymerizations. A composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent (also referred to as a mediator or an activating agent) is also disclosed. A process for oxidizing a substrate that comprises treating the substrate with a composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent is also disclosed.

Abstract: A two-component mediator system is disclosed, wherein one component serves as a pro-oxidant and the other component serves as a pro-degradant and booster. When used in combination with a laccase, the two-component mediators enhance the bleaching of pulp. In addition, a composition comprising an oxidative enzyme, a pro-oxidant, and a pro-degradant, and a process for oxidizing a substrate that comprises treating the substrate with an oxidizing enzyme, a pro-oxidant, and a pro-degradant are disclosed. The pro-oxidant can be ascorbic acid, ascorbate, salicylic acid, salicylate, nicotinic acid, nicotinate, a hardwood black liquor, a softwood black liquor, ligno-organosolv, lignin sulfonate, or mixtures thereof. The pro-degradant can be urea, thiourea, sulfamic acid, sulfamide, guanidine, methylsulfonic acid, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent, also referred to as a mediator, is disclosed. A process for oxidizing a substrate that comprises treating the substrate with a composition comprising an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity and an enzyme enhancing agent is disclosed. The process when used on lignin-containing material bleaches the lignin-containing material. A process for enhancing the activity of an enzyme exhibiting laccase activity that comprises adding an enzyme enhancing agent to the enzyme is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing creosote using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one creosote-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the creosote. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: A process of oxidizing a substrate is disclosed. The process comprising the step of treating the substrate with an oxidizing enzyme, a mediator that enhances the oxidative activity of the enzyme, and a chain transfer agent. In one example, the substrate is a lignin-containing material and the process results in bleaching of the lignin-containing material. Examples of some useful enzymes are laccase, catechol oxidase, monophenol monooxygenase, and bilirubin oxidase. A composition comprising an oxidative enzyme, a mediator that enhances the oxidative activity of the enzyme, and a chain transfer agent is also disclosed.

Abstract: Xylooligosaccharide is produced from a lignocellulose pulp by enzyme-treating a lignocellulose pulp with hemicellulase, filtering the resultant reaction mixture to separate a liquid fraction from the enzyme-treated pulp, subjecting the separated liquid fraction to a permeation treatment through a separation membrane to separate a non-permeated fraction containing xylooligosaccharide-lignin complex with an increased concentration from a permeated fraction, collecting the non-permeated fraction, and separating and recovering xylooligosaccharide from the collected non-permeated fraction.

Abstract: Lignocellulose pulp is bleached by bleaching a pulp in aqueous alkali solution with oxygen and treating the pulp with a hemicellulase, while a liquid fraction delivered from the enzyme treatment step is separated from the hemicellulase treated reaction mixture, and subjected to a penetration treatment through a separation membrane, for example, reverse osmosis membrane, to separate a permeated fraction from a non-permeated fraction; the permeated fraction is fed to the alkali-oxygen bleaching (oxygen delignification) step and is used as a liquid medium of the bleaching system.

Abstract: Sanitary paper with improved softness (lower stiffness) can be obtained without significant loss of paper strength by using a papermaking pulp which is treated with a certain type of cellulase component. The cellulase component in question is characterized by not containing a cellulose-binding domain (CBD), and is more effective for making softer sanitary paper than a conventional cellulase preparation which contains a mixture of various cellulase components with and without a CBD.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing pentachlorephenol (penta) using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one penta-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the pentachlorophenol. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ) using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one ACQ-tolerant fungus. a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the ACQ. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: A method for treating cellulosic materials is disclosed which comprises contacting the cellulosic material with a cellulase obtainable from Thermomonospora fusca corresponding to E5 or a derivative thereof. Particularly preferred methods comprise stonewashing and detergent cleaning of cotton fabrics, the production of paper products, as an additive to animal feed and in the production of food, starch, ethanol and sugar.

Abstract: A purified xylanase derived from B. Pumilus PRL B12 is disclosed. This xylanase is efficient for use in the biobleaching of wood pulp, permitting a strong reduction in the quantity of chlorine used and AOX compounds produced in classical and ECF wood pulp bleaching sequences as well as the quantity of ozone used in TCF sequences. The gene coding for the xylanase was isolated and purified and used to construct an expression vector therefor. A recombinant host strain of B. licheniformis is also disclosed which is efficient for expressing heterologous enzymes, including the xylanase when transformed by the expression vector.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of fungi stains of Ophiostoma floccosum, Ophiostoma piceae or Ophiostoma pluruanulatum, or mixtures on wood and pulp to improve chemical pulping processes and/or reduce cooking tie and/or improve brightness and/or decrease extractives.

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.

Abstract: Pulp is treated with a hemicellulase, e.g. a xylanase such as that derived from Bacillus sp. SD902, prior to being chemically modified. This results in excellent cellulose derivatives that could not be obtained by any conventional methods. Specifically, the cellulose derivatives produced by this method have improved filterability and increased water-solubility. In addition, according to this method, the formation of microgel is minimized, and the distribution of the substituents in the cellulose derivatives through the intramolecular substitution in the method is made more uniform.

Abstract: A novel pectate lyase belonging to a novel family of polysaccharide lyases has good performance in industrial processes under neutral or alkaline conditions such as laundering and textile processing. The pectate lyase may be derivable from Bacillus species.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing ammoniacal copper quat (ACQ) using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one ACQ-tolerant fungus a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the ACQ. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: The present invention relates to enzyme preparations consisting essentially of an enzyme which has cellulytic activity and comprises a first amino acid sequence consisting of 14 amino acid residues having the following sequence Thr Arg Xaa Xaa Asp Cys Cys Xaa Xaa Xaa Cys Xaa 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10  11  12 Trp Xaa 13  14 and a second amino acid sequence consisting of 5 amino acid residues having the following sequence Trp Cys Cys Xaa Cys 1   2   3   4   5 wherein, in position 3 of the first sequence, the amino acid is Trp, Tyr or Phe; in position 4 of the first sequence, the amino acid is Trp, Tyr or Phe; in position 8 of the first sequence, the amino acid is Arg, Lys or His; in

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing creosote using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one creosote-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the creosote. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: A method for degrading and/or bioremediating waste wood containing pentachlorephenol (penta) using a fungal inoculum is disclosed. The fungal inoculum comprises of at least one penta-tolerant fungi, a lignocellulosic substrate and a nutrient supplement. The fungal inoculum is applied to the waste wood and maintained in an aerated and hydrated environment having temperature conditions sufficient to allow the inoculum to grow and metabolize the pentachlorophenol. The inoculum and the waste wood are combined until an end product is achieved that is at least partially remediated or of a reduced volume.

Abstract: Process for the production of cellulose paper pulps from vegetable masses, comprising the steps of mixing and conditioning a vegetative mass suitable to form a culture medium with an inoculum constituted of edible ligninolythic mushrooms, such as Lentinus edodes, Pleurotis Peryngii, Psajor-caju, and the like; extracting the so-obtained enzyme and adding it to the vegetative material for the production of paper pulp, mainly constituted of cultivated annual plants such as kenaf, hemp, flax, cotton and various stems and/or agricultural-industrial residues, such as cereal straws, maize stalks, and the like; conditioning and causing the mass to react; and lastly washing the mass after the biological attack, obtaining in this way a cellulose pulp to be submitted to possible mild final cooking and bleaching treatment. Apparatus for the realiztion of the process, and cellulose pulps obtained by biodelignification of cultivated annual plants and/or agricultural-industrial residues.

Abstract: A method and a device for measuring the content of chemicals used in connection with bleaching of preferably cellulose fibers in a pulp, suspension for the purpose of providing a better and more uniform product quality and preventing overdosage of the bleaching chemical used. According to the invention a measurement sample is derived from a predetermined volume of the pulp suspension after or during the bleaching. Further, a catalyst in the shape of the enzyme catalase is added to the sample, which is agitated so that the bleaching chemical is decomposed and oxygen gas is generated, which oxygen gas pushes out a certain sample volume for the measurement sample, which sample volume is directly or indirectly converted, e.g. via a simple algorithm, to a value representing the content of the bleaching chemical used.