The present disclosure generally relates to a methods and systems for conversion of chemically pretreated lignocellulosic biomass to monosaccharides by enzymatic hydrolysis at high total solids concentration to provide for increased throughput and reduced enzyme usage in commercial scale processes.

The present invention relates to the removal of hemicelluloses from paper-grade alkaline pulp thereby upgrading the pulp e.g. into dissolving-grade pulp using a combination of enzyme treatment, hot caustic extraction and optionally one or more bleaching steps.

A method for producing mechanical paper pulp comprises: impregnating unprocessed wood, whereby unprocessed wood is exposed to an impregnating composition comprising at least a laccase enzyme and a formula mediator (I), wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 are identical or different groups, chosen from among a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon chain, linear or branched, saturated or unsaturated, comprising 1 to 14 carbon atoms, wherein each hydrocarbon chain can be replaced by one or more functional groups chosen from among —OH, —SO.sub.3, benzyl, amino, mercapto, keto or carboxyl, wherein R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 in combination can form a cyclical structure, to achieve impregnation of the wood; and mechanically refining the impregnated wood, such that a mechanical paper pulp is obtained. The disclosure also relates to an impregnating composition used in this method and to the use thereof in a method for producing mechanical paper pulp, as well as to a method for producing paper.

Disclosed is mechanical and decolorization pretreatment of cotton-containing textiles, such as “trash” feedstock in terms of end-of-life-cotton textiles, that may be used to produce sugar without the use of harsh pretreatments conditions.

A cellulase having improved enzymatic activity is disclosed. The cellulase comprises a modified amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the modification is a substitution of Tyrosine at position 161 with Histidine.

The present invention relates to an improved method and device for treating biomass in which thermally treated biomass is discharged from a pressurized reactor and introduced into a blow tank and then a flash tank, wherein the absolute pressure in the blow tank is maintained above atmospheric pressure and the absolute pressure in the flash tank is maintained below atmospheric pressure. The slurry of biomass separated in the flash tank is then enzymatically treated. The heat from the thermally treated biomass is recovered from the latent heat of a vaporous aqueous stream withdrawn from the blow tank.

The patent application relates to isolated polypeptides that specifically cleave non-glycosidic ether bonds between lignins or derivatives thereof and saccharides, and to cDNAs encoding the polypeptides. The patent application also relates to nucleic acid constructs, expression vectors and host cells comprising the cDNAs, as well as methods of producing and using the isolated polypeptides for treating pulp and biomass to increase soluble saccharide yield and enrich lignin fractions.

The present invention relates to novel polypeptides, or fragments of polypeptides, genes encoding them and means for producing said polypeptides. In detail the invention relates to polypeptides having esterase, suberinase and/or cutinase activity at low pH. This invention relates also to compositions containing the polypeptides and methods of using the polypeptides.

Methods for reducing the effects of wetlapping, drying, and hornification of pulp fibers and consequently increasing the pulp drainage and strength properties in the final product (i.e., paper) are provided. The method which has been developed creates a “value-added” product by the wastepaper supplier or at the pulp and/or deinking (recycled paper) mill—a wastepaper load/bale, wet pulp stock or wet lap, or dried pulp treated with or impregnated with enzymes that enhance the quality of the pulp or paper product when it is repulped and processed at the paper mill.

The present invention relates to a phase-stable suspension of cellulose II in water, having a high water retention capacity and a cellulose concentration between 0.1 and 5.0% by weight, a method of its preparation, and its use.