Systems and methods as disclosed herein automatically provide real-time dosing corrections for an industrial process wherein enzyme blends are applied to natural fibers for pulp/paper production. An initial enzyme blend (e.g., enzymes and supporting formulation components, as relevant) and respective dose rates are selected to be applied based on expected fiber surface substrate characterization, expected fiber quality characterization, the physical conditions of the system being treated, respective characteristics of the initially selected enzyme blend components, etc. Upon application of the initial enzyme blend, online sensors provide real-time feedback data corresponding to measured actual values for the fiber surface substrate characterization and fiber quality characterization. A replacement enzyme blend (enzymes and supporting formulation components) and respective dose rates thereof is dynamically selected based on the feedback data. The enzyme dosing stage can be optimized responsive to product changes and/or variations in fiber sources/blend and/or physical conditions, substantially in real time.

The present invention relates to an enhanced process for the production of cellulose pulps with increased quality and applicability of said pulps, especially their physical resistance properties and degree of resistance to drainage, through an enzymatic treatment step comprised in the production process of said cellulose pulp, concomitantly with the polymer dosage based on carbohydrates.

The present invention relates to fungal enzymes, more in particular of polyphenoloxidases (PPOs), and is based on a newly discovered enzymatic activity of a class of PPOs, i.e. de-methylation of R-substituted mono- or di-methoxyphenolsuch as present in lignin, lignin derived compounds and/or in lignocellulosic biomass. This newly discovered enzymatic activity renders these enzymes highly suitable for a plethora of applications in industry. Provided herein are methods of demethylation, processes to increase the reactivity of lignin or lignin-comprising biomass, processes of conversion lignin or lignin comprising biomass to value added products, processes for degrading and/or modifying (hemi-)cellulose in a hemicellulose-comprising substrate, and expression vectors, host cells and liquids, pastes or solid formulations and compositions for use in the demethylation method of the invention.

The present invention is in the field of paper production, more in particular it relates to the process of wood pulping. It provides useful biological methods and compounds for reducing the energy requirements of the production of wood pulp. It describes a method for reducing the energy requirement of a thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) process wherein cellulose fibers are recovered from a biomass comprising lignocellulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is treated with a CotA laccase before recovering the cellulose from the lignocellulosic material.

A ground cover in the form of a mulch, allowing air and moist to permeate, which includes a paper substrate originating from fibre-bearing pulp, preferably emanating from lignocellulosic material, which has been web-formed or sheet-formed, characterized in that the substrate has been impregnated with supercritical fluid, preferably CO2, alternatively a fluid under high pressure such as near supercritical conditions, wherein also one or more colorant(s) is (are) present in said fluid. Also a method for its manufacture and use thereof are disclosed.

Methods to reduce sticky and fluff induced rewinder breaks by reducing the adhesive character of adhesive materials, fluff and sticky contaminants in fibers are described. One method involves contacting the fibers with a composition containing at least one of each of a cellulase, a hemicellulase, a -glucosidase, a lipase, an esterase, a pectinase, a pectate lyase and a laccase for a sufficient time and in a sufficient amount to control the removal or controlling adhesive materials, fluff and sticky contaminants present in the fibers. Preferably, the fibers are recycled fibers originating from a variety of sources such as old corrugated containers, old newsprint, mixed office waste, and the like. Resulting paper products formed from the processed fibers are also described as well as methods to make them.

The present invention pertains to the field of pulp or paper making. More specifically the present invention relates to a method of preventing a build-up of slime or removing slime from a surface contacted with water from a pulp or paper making process. The present invention can control slime in an efficient and environmentally friendly way.

Provided is a separator for alkaline batteries, which has low resistance, while exhibiting excellent strength in electrolyte solutions and excellent shielding properties. A separator for alkaline batteries, which is used for the purpose of separating a positive electrode active material and a negative electrode active material from each other and holding a electrolyte solution. This separator for alkaline batteries is composed of: a base layer that is formed only of alkali-resistant fibers; and an alkali-resistant resin layer that contains 0.1-25 g/m.sup.2 of an alkali-resistant resin. The alkali-resistant fibers of the base layer are configured to contain alkali-resistant cellulose fibers in an amount of 10 to 100% by mass.

By combination of hydrophobic chromatography and strongly basic anion-exchange chromatography, a novel, highly hydrophobic -glucosidase was successfully identified from Acremonium cellulolyticus. Further, a gene corresponding to the identified -glucosidase was isolated. When multiple modifications were introduced into the base sequence of the gene, the gene was successfully expressed in Trichoderma viride at a high level, and the expression product successfully exhibited a high -glucosidase activity.

The present invention is in the field of paper production, more in particular it relates to the process of wood pulping. It provides useful biological methods and compounds for reducing the energy requirements of the production of wood pulp. It describes a method for reducing the energy requirement of a thermo-mechanical pulping (TMP) process wherein cellulose fibers are recovered from a biomass comprising lignocellulosic material, wherein the lignocellulosic material is treated with a CotA laccase before recovering the cellulose from the lignocellulosic material.