Enzymatic deinking of secondary fibers: cellulases/hemicellulases versus laccase-mediator system

The use of enzymes has been suggested as an environmentally-friendly alternative to complement conventional chemical deinking in the recycling of recovered paper. This study compares the use of carbohydrate hydrolases versus laccase-mediator system for deinking printed fibers from newspapers and magazines. For this purpose, two commercial enzyme preparations with endoglucanase and endoxylanase activities (Viscozyme Wheat from Aspergillus oryzae and Ultraflo L from Humicola insolens) and a commercial laccase NS51002 from Trametes villosa), the latter in the presence of synthetic or natural (lignin related) mediators, were evaluated. The enzymatic treatments were studied at laboratory scale, using a standard chemical deinking sequence consisting of pulping, alkaline deinking and peroxide bleaching stages. Then, handsheets were prepared and their brightness, residual ink concentration, and strength properties were measured. Among the different enzymatic treatments assayed, both carbohydrate hydrolases were found to deink the secondary fibers more efficiently. Brightness increased up to 3-4% ISO on newspaper fibers, being Ultraflo 20% more efficient in the ink removal. Up to 2.5% ISO brightness increase was obtained when magazine fibers were used, being Viscozyme 9% more efficient in the ink removal. As regards laccase-mediator system, alone or combined with carbohydrate hydrolases, it was ineffective deinking both newspaper and magazine fibers, resulting in pulps with worse brightness and residual ink concentration values. However, pulp deinking by laccase-mediator system was displayed when secondary fibers rich in lignin, i.e. printed cardboard, were used, obtaining up to 3% ISO brightness increase and lower residual ink concentrations