Downloaded by 91.238.114.161 on November 29, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: March 31, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0687.pr001
Preface
1 HE WORLDWIDE EFFORTS devoted over the past few decades to research for a better understanding of the enzyme mechanisms involved in the degradation of cellulose, hemicelluloses, pectins, lignins, and other natural polymers has provided a solid base for a successful use of enzymes in fiber processing. However, it is not only progress in this research but also progress in the biosciences in general, i.e., in biochemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, and genetics that has made the use of enzymes in fiber processing possible and even economically feasible for both the pulp and paper and the textile industries. The progress in these biosciences allows, for example, for cloning of enzymes from extreme thermophiles or from extreme alkalophiles into efficient production systems which means that enzymes, suitable and efficient in fiber processing, be it in bleaching, deinking or other paper making processes, scouring of cotton fibers or treatment of wool fibers in fabric making processes, can be produced at costs you could only dream of 5 to 10 years ago. This book presents papers from the ACS symposium, "Enzyme Applications in Fiber Processing" held in San Francisco, April 1997. The first half of the book is devoted to enzymes in pulp and paper fiber processing and the second half to enzymes in textile fiber processing. The pulp and paper section starts with an overview of biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry which involves the use of both microorganisms, white-rot fungi in particular, and enzymes in bleaching, pitch degradation, deinking, etc. One chapter is fully devoted to biomechanical and biochemical pulping, another to biodégradation of resin acids in the chip pile by microorganisms and in the white-water systems by enzymes. Enzymes are also applied for the modification of kraft pulp fibers, to increase freeness in recycled fiber slurries, and for use in deinking of papers. Laccases have been used to catalyze the bonding of wood fibers together in the production of composites. Enzymes involved in lignin degradation and modification such as laccases, peroxidases, and oxidoreductases are described and characterized. These enzymes emanate from white-rot fungi. Finally in the pulp and paper section, expression of genes structuring for hemicellulases from extremely thermophilic culturable and unculturable bacteria are described in two different chapters. The textile section starts with an overview relating to processing of textile fibers with enzymes. Most of the interest in textile fiber processing is devoted to xi
Eriksson and Cavaco-Paulo; Enzyme Applications in Fiber Processing ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
enzyme treatment of cotton fibers and bioscouring of cotton fabrics with cellulases. Pectin degrading enzymes have also been used for scouring of cotton and for enzymatic treatment of linen fabrics and for retting of flax. Also, dissolving pulp fibers have been modified using cellulases. Finally, various types of proteases are described for use in modification of wool fibers. While patents have been issued in many of the areas described in this book, this is to our knowledge the first book where up-to-date knowledge is put together for enzyme treatment of both pulp and paper and textile fibers. We therefore hope that this book will be of value to those in both the paper and the textile industries. This book was developed from a symposium sponsored by the Divisions of Cellulose, Paper, and Textile and Biochemical Technology at the 213 National Meeting of die American Chemical Society in San Francisco, C A on April 13-17, 1997.
Downloaded by 91.238.114.161 on November 29, 2016 | http://pubs.acs.org Publication Date: March 31, 1998 | doi: 10.1021/bk-1998-0687.pr001
th
KARL-ERIK L. ERIKSSON
Professor of Biochemistry Eminent Scholar of Biotechnology University of Georgia Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Athens, G A 30602-7229 ARTUR CAVACO-PAULO
Professor Auxiliar Departmento de Engenharia Textil Universidade do Minho 4800 Guimaraes Portugal
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Eriksson and Cavaco-Paulo; Enzyme Applications in Fiber Processing ACS Symposium Series; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1998.
