Progress in biomodification of cellulose pulps by cellulases and xylanases

The studies conducted at the Institute of Chemical Fibres concerned the searching of new, ecological methods for pulp modification confirm the possibilities to apply these enzymes for the above purpose. The biomodification of cellulose has been carried out with high-specified cellulase and xylanase enzymes from fungi strains, such as Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei. Application of enzymes for cellulose modification makes it possible to link partial depolymerisation and degradation of cellulose with the changes of its molecular, supermolecular and morphological structure, leading to obtention of 98-99.5% soluble polymer in aq. sodium hydroxide. The aim of this paper is to present some results concerning the optimisation and scaling up of cellulose biomodification. Some physical-chemical properties of biomodified pulp, as well as the results of enzymatic hydrolisate analysis, are presented in this paper.