Integrating a xylanase treatment into an industrial-type sequence for eucalyptus kraft pulp bleaching

The influence of a treatment with two commercial xylanases on pulp and effluents obtained after the bleaching stages in the OXAZDP (O, oxygen stage; X, xylanase treatment; A, acid stage; Z, ozone stage; D, chlorine dioxide stage; P, hydrogen peroxide stage) sequence was studied. Also, the potential saving in chlorine dioxide was assessed. The enzyme treatment was performed on pulp containing some black liquor since the operating conditions were close to the conditions used in the storage tower in Fibria, identified as the most suitable point for application. The greatest differences in kappa number and hexenuronic acid content were observed after the X stage. Whereas, in brightness were observed after the Z stage. The effluent properties from the X stage were higher with the enzyme treatments. Also, the enzymes allowed chlorine dioxide consumption in the bleaching stage to be reduced. The control pulp contained twice as much adsorbable organic halides (AOX) and exhibited twice more brightness reversion than did the enzyme-treated samples. However, the tensile index and drainability at an identical degree of refining were lower in the enzyme-treated sample