| abstract |
Process for bleaching lignocellulosic material comprising an oxygen bleaching treatment and an enzymatic treatment with a substantially cellulase-free xylanase, which process is compatible with, and can be incorporated into, conventional bleaching sequences. The process provides a delignified and bleached pulp using lower amounts of chlorine-containing compounds, and the opportunity of eliminating the use of elemental chlorine, thereby reducing the polluting effluent from a pulp mill employing the process. Also, a greater extent of delignification can be achieved while retaining acceptable pulp strength properties. The oxygen bleaching treatment and the enzynmatic treatment are done in series. |