Effect of Xylanase Pre-and Post-Treatment on oxygen Bleaching of Oak Kraft Pulp

The use of genetically cloned xylanase acquired from Bacillus strearthermophillus improves bleachability for oak kraft pulps. Combination of xylanase(X). oxygen(O), ozone(Z). peroxide(P), alkaline extraction(Eo. Eop), and chlorination(C/D, D) have been tested in a variety of bleaching sequences. The effectiveness of xylanase pre-treatment(XO) and post-treatment(OX) in oxygen bleaching is mainly compared. With xylanase treatment the brightness increase by 1.5-2.1% ISO in OZEP, OZEoP, OZEopP and OPZP sequences. There is only numerically difference of brightness gains between OX and XO sequences. With xylanase treatment chemical requirements for bleaching decrease by 42.6-48.6% in OC/DEoD sequence and 47.9-54.7% as active chlorine in OC/DEopD sequence at the same brightness. the reduction of bleaching chemicals is higher in XO sequence than those in OX sequence. Following xylanase treatment the viscosity increases from 11.7-12.0 mPa·s to 12.4-13.5 mPa·s and the brightness stability is considerably improved however the difference of effectiveness between XO and OX sequence is not present. Compared to tensile index vs tear index, the physical properties are similar for TCF bleaching sequences with and without xylanase treatments. However in OC/DEoD and OC/DEopD sequences the physical properties decrease with xylanase treatment. There is no difference in the physical properties between XO and OX sequences. COD, BOD and color of bleaching effluents increase slightly with xylanase treatment, however the discharge of COD end-load into environmental impact decrease.