Enzymatically solubilized dissolving pulp for manufacture of cellulosic fibres

Dissolving pulp can be modified to a more alkaline soluble form by cellulases. The alkaline solubility was found to clearly correlate with the decrease in viscosity. Endoglucanases, especially EG II, decreased the viscosity most efficiently when compared at the same cellulose degradation level. The effect of EG II could not be improved by the action of hemicellulases. According to preliminary fibre spinning trials from enzyme-treated hardwood pulp it has been shown that it is possible to spin fibres from enzyme-treated cellulose using an advanced wet spinning line.