A new approach to the internal sizing of paper via biotechnological processes

Abstract

This work deals with the study of a new biotechnological procedure, employing laccase in combination with hydrophobic compounds, for the biomodification of fibres and the internal sizing of paper. Cellulose fibres from eucalyptus kraft pulp, unbleached and TCF bleached, were incubated with laccase, in combination with a series of hydrophobes. Laccase treatments of cellulose fibres with lauryl gallate conferred the lowest level of water penetration in handsheets. It was observed that the hydrophobization of paper was not possible using the hidrophobe alone. The coupling of lauryl gallate onto cellulose fibres was firstly denoted by kappa number analysis, and further demonstrated by IR spectroscopy. The internal sizing of paper proved to be effective regardless the lignin content of eucalyptus fibres