Life Programme: “Forestry-Wood” chain

European R&D Project:


New environmentally-sound methods for pitch control in different paper pulp manufacturing processes

(acronym: PITCH)

General Information:

Contract No. QLK5-CT-1999-01357
Starting date: 1 January 2000
Ending date: 30 June 2003
EU contribution: 1.477.759 euros

Project coordinator:
Dr. Angel T. Martínez
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC
Department of Molecular Microbiology
Velázquez 144, E-28006 Madrid, Spain
Phone: 34 915611800 or 34 915644562 (ext 4407)
Fax: 34 915627518
E-mail: ATMartinez@cib.csic.es


Objectives

To design biotechnological and physicochemical environmentally-sound methods for pitch control during manufacture of selected paper pulps based on: i) a previous balance of extractive-derived compounds during manufacturing of the two types of pulp selected (eucalypt TCF-bleached Kraft pulp and spruce TMP pulp) and identification of compounds responsible for pitch deposition in different phases of the above industrial processes; ii) the use of fungal strains selectively-removing extractives from eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) and Norway spruce (Picea abies) wood; iii) the use of new industrial enzymes (native or engineered proteins) being able to degrade target compounds involved in pitch deposition (present in pulps or process liquids); and iv) suitable combination of the above biotechnological treatments with improved physicochemical methods to remove pitch or decrease its depositability in pulps and mills.

To develop the above pitch control methods at a pilot scale including: i) optimization of fungal growth and formulation of fungal inocula to treat wood; ii) optimized protocols for expression, and purification of the new enzymes developed for removing pitch compounds from the above pulping processes; iii) optimization of combined biological-physicochemical treatments of the pulp; iv) pilot-scale pulping and bleaching including the above optimized treatments; v) analysis of advantages of the new processes in terms of extractive removal, control of pitch deposition, pulp and process parameters, and effluent biological treatability and toxicity; and vi) evaluation of the industrial and commercial interest of the treatments developed for the above raw materials and pulp manufacturing processes. Two mill-scale trials will be considered according to the pilot-scale results.


Summary of Project Results

 

    

     Pitch is caused by lipophilic wood extractives that are released during pulping and bleaching and form unstable water suspensions that can destabilize forming deposits that lower the quality of pulp and cause shutdown of mill operation. Pitch deposition represents a complex phenomenon, the incidence of which has been increased during recent years with the introduction of more ecological practices in the pulp and paper mills, such as chlorine-free bleaching and closing of circuits. Biotechnology was already applied for pitch control in the early 1990’s when lipases were used for the first time at the mill scale to control lipid deposits in manufacturing of softwood mechanical pulp. In the present project pitch problematics in other pulp manufacturing processes were analyzed, including the use of eucalypt wood (a valuable raw material used in Spain and Portugal mills) and the influence of modern totally chlorine free (TCF) bleaching processes (that constitute the current tendency for pulp bleaching in Nordic countries). Simultaneously, novel tools for pitch biocontrol using microorganisms and enzymes were developed adapted to the new pitch scenarios mentioned above. The new applications were investigated at different levels that include studies from molecular biology and protein engineering (to better adapt enzymes to mill conditions) to mill scale trials (to better evaluate the benefits on papermaking properties).

 

     Manufacturing of eucalypt (Eucalyptus globulus) kraft pulp and spruce (Picea abies) mechanical pulp were chosen as two representative pulping processes to investigate different pitch problematics. The study of lipid dynamics during manufacturing of chlorine-free pulp from eucalypt wood revealed a predominance of free and conjugated sitosterol (as both sterol esters and glycosides) in both raw material, pulps, deposits and process waters. This is because, in contrast to ECF bleaching that degrades this and other unsaturated sterols, sitosterol survives both kraft cooking and TCF bleaching being at the origin of pitch deposits in manufacturing of eucalypt chlorine-free pulp. In the case of spruce mechanical pulping, all deposits contain an inorganic fraction together with lipophilic compounds (triglycerides, resin acids, and sterol esters being the most abundant) that are responsible for deposition. Not only the abundance of the individual pitch components but also the interactions between them in aqueous media are important to predict pitch aggregation and deposition. Therefore, some relevant aspects of pitch physico-chemistry were studied using laboratory models (representing different pitch compositions) with the purpose of better understanding pitch behavior at the mill scale. Moreover, it was found that other components in mill process waters also affected pitch depositability, as is the case of hemicelluloses acting as effective pitch stabilizers.

 

     Wood seasoning at the mill is traditionally used to control pitch troubles in paper pulp manufacturing. This is based on the natural action of autochthonous wood microflora that can remove some extractives, especially those more easily biodegradable such as triglycerides and free fatty acids. The control of pitch by inoculating chip piles with microorganisms selected because of their ability to degrade pitch-causing extractives (pulpwood “biodepitching”) can be considered as a wood seasoning under controlled conditions. Several fungi from the group of basidiomycetes were selected as the most efficient organisms for the biological removal (from spruce and eucalypt wood) of those lipophilic extractives identified as the main responsible for pitch deposit formation. CartapipTM, a fungal inoculum (of an albino Ophiostoma piliferum strain) commercialized by Agrasol (USA) was provided by this company for comparison with the basidiomycetes selected for spruce depitching. Trametes versicolor appeared as the most efficient organism for development of an improved inoculum to treat chips to control pitch deposition in spruce mechanical pulping. This fungus removed triglycerides, resin acids and sterol esters from chips and did not significantly affect papermaking properties as shown by pilot-scale pulping and bleaching of the bio-treated chips. In the case of eucalypt kraft pulping, four basidiomycetes were included in a patent application due to their high ability to degrade both free and conjugated sterols during wood treatment. New strains growing more quickly on eucalypt chips were identified, but the losses in pulp yield precluded their industrial application. Although the fungi can colonize fresh chips without any particular pretreatment, it was found that extractive degradation was the highest after wood steaming (or sterilization). Addition of corn steep liquor, an additive used in wood “biopulping” (developed at Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, USA), enabled a very significant reduction of the inoculum dose, but it strongly depressed extractives degradation. Finally, the scale-up of fungal inocula for treating eucalypt (using the fungus Phlebia radiata) and spruce chips (using the fungus T. versicolor) was investigated in collaboration with Prophyta, a German company specialized in solid-state fermentation that used chips as fungal substrate and provided the material required to other partners. In addition to remove those extractives responsible for pitch deposit formation, the fungal treatments of wood chips also removed lignin, although a decreased consumption of cooking reagents in kraft pulping was not observed, and decreased the potential toxicity of process effluents. Higher delignification of wood was observed after longer incubation periods, but extended incubation is not required for pitch control and results in reduced pulp yield. The decrease of potential toxicity is especially relevant because some wood extractives, including resin acids, are among the most toxic compounds in pulp mill effluents after the substitution of chlorine-containing reagents in modern bleaching sequences.

 

     Enzymes were the first biotechnological products used at the paper mill. Their main advantage is the short time of action (only a few hours) compared with several days (or weeks) required for wood colonization after application of microbial inocula. Only “typical” lipases hydrolyzing triglycerides are currently commercialized for pitch control. They have their application field in mechanical pulping, especially in the production of the so-called stone groundwood (SGW) pulps, since the alkaline conditions in kraft and other chemical pulping processes result in complete saponification of triglycerides. Two different approaches were selected in the present project to enlarge the potential of enzymes for pitch control. First, new esterases with activity on sterol esters, which are the main lipophilic compounds in eucalypt and are also present in spruce and other woods (such as birch and aspen), were identified after a large screening of fungi from different taxonomic groups. Sterol esterases have been less intensively investigated than lipases, and none of them is available for industrial application. Therefore, the two sterol esterases isolated from Melanocarpus albomyces and Ophiostoma piceae were purified and largely characterized from the points of view of both catalytic properties and industrial applicability. The kinetic constants of the O. piceae esterase revealed the high enzyme affinity and activity on both triglycerides and esters of sterols with long-chain fatty acids, as corresponds to a sterol esterase. The enzyme was able to hydrolyze not only the model compounds used in kinetics studies, but also the complex mixtures of glycerides and sterol esters present in pulps and process waters. A patent application on the use of the O. piceae sterol esterase for pitch biocontrol was submitted. Second, the spectrum of application of a commercial lipase (ResinaseTM) was enlarged by improving its stability at the high temperatures used in current mechanical pulping processes including thermomechanical pulping (TMP). This was done by applying the tools of molecular biology enabling incorporation of a desired characteristic to a protein by many cycles of random/oriented mutagenesis and selection of the best protein variants. The method is called forced (or directed) evolution because it is based on the mutation/selection mechanism of natural evolution, but a forced selection tendency is applied by a screening procedure oriented to the introduction of the desired protein characteristic. In this way several ResinaseTM variants with up to 16ºC higher thermal stability were generated. Their improved performances hydrolyzing and decreasing depositability of spruce extractives at high temperatures were confirmed (the latter using a laboratory deposition rotor designed by one of the partners). The best lipase variants to be used at temperature of 80-85ºC were included in a recent patent, and will be soon commercialized (hopefully during 2003).

 

     Simultaneously, some physicochemical methods were investigated for pitch control alone or in combination with the biological treatments. These include dissolved air flotation and microfiltration that were both assayed at the pilot scale using real process waters. Microfiltration proved to be very effective in removing lipophilic extractives from recycled black liquors in eucalypt kraft pulping (with an estimated average cost of 5 euro/ton of pulp, plus the initial investment). On the other hand, it was found that some natural components of wood and other lignocellulosic materials, such as the galactomannans from the hemicellulose fraction, could be used as very efficient pitch stabilizers in paper pulp manufacturing.

 

     Finally, two mill-scale trials to study different advantages of a commercial lipase (Buzyme 2518) applied together with a cationic fixing agent (Bufloc 5031) during SGW pulping of spruce wood were performed at a Finnish mill (in Voikkaa). The first trial was unsuccessful due to problems with the enzyme preparation, but the second one showed a very significant decrease of triglycerides at the different parts of the mill even when the lowest enzyme dose was applied.

 

     It is possible to conclude that biotechnology still has a high potential for improved pitch control in paper pulp manufacturing. In addition to the products already in the market, new or improved fungal inocula and enzymes will be available in the near future adapted to different paper pulp manufacturing processes.

 


Project Publications:

 

  1. Bergelin, E., V. Schoultz, J. Hemming, and B. Holmbom. 2003. Evaluation of methods for extraction and analysis of wood resin in chemical pulp. Nordic Pulp Paper Res. J. (in press).
  2. Bergelin, E. and B. Holmbom. 2003. Deresination of birch kraft pulp in bleaching. J. Pulp Paper Sci. 29:29-34.
  3. Bertaud, F. and G. Lenon. 2002. Fungal treatment of spruce wood for pitch control during TMP process: Other advantages as detoxification of process effluent. Proc. CTP-EFPG Wood chemistry and pulp technology forum, Grenoble, 1 March 2002.
  4. Bertaud, F., G. Lenon, C. Deschamps-Roupert, and S. Prasse. 2002. Fungal treatment of spruce wood for pitch control during TMP process: Other advantages as detoxification of process effluents. Proc. EWLP'2002,Turku, 26-29 August.
  5. Blanco, A., C. Negro, M. C. Monte, D. Otero, and J. Tijero. 2000. New system to predict deposits due to DCM destabilization in paper mills. Pulp Paper Can. 101:40.
  6. Brändefors, S. 2001. Viskositet och klibbighet hos verdharts av olika sammansättning. Ph.D. Thesis Åbo Akademi, Turku.
  7. Buchert, J., A. Mustranta, P. Spetz, R. Ekman, and B. Holmbom. 2000. Enzymatic control of wood extractives. Proc. Appita Conf. 2000,APPITA, Melbourne571-573.
  8. Buchert, J., A. Mustranta, H. Kontkanen, S. Karlsson, M. Tenkanen, and B. Holmbom. 2001. Enzymatic modification of wood extractives. Proc. 11th ISWPC, Nice, 11-14 June I:375-378.
  9. Buchert, J. R., A. Mustranta, and B. Holmbom. 2002. Enzymatic control of dissolved and colloidal substances during mechanical pulping, p. 271-280. In L. Viikari and R. Lantto (eds.), Biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
  10. Calero-Rueda, O., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2001. Isolation of an Ophiostoma piceae esterase: Effect on sterol esters and triglycerides involved in pitch deposition. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June.
  11. Calero-Rueda, O., F. J. Plou, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2001. Properties and substrate specificity of an esterase isolated from the ascomycete Ophiostoma piceae. Abs. 10th Eur. Congr. Biotechnol. , Madrid, 8-11 July.
  12. Calero-Rueda, O., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, C. Muñoz, F. J. Plou, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2001. Esterasa, procedimiento de obtención y su utilización para el control enzimático de los depósitos de brea (pitch) formados durante la fabricación de pasta de papel. Patent (Spain) No. P200100618 (16-Mar-2001).
  13. Calero-Rueda, O., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, C. Muñoz, F. J. Plou, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Method for the enzymatic control of pitch deposits formed during paper pulp production using an esterase that hydrolyses triglycerides and sterol esters. Patent (International) No. WO 02/075045 A1 (PCT/ES02/00120; application of 14-Mar-02).
  14. Calero-Rueda, O., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Spruce pulp treatment with an esterase from Ophiostoma piceae significantly decreases the content of both triglycerides and sterol esters responsible for pitch deposits. Proc. EWLP'2002,Turku, 26-29 August.
  15. Calero-Rueda, O., F. J. Plou, A. Ballesteros, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Production, isolation and characterization of a sterol esterase from Ophiostoma piceae. BBA Proteins Proteomics 1599:28-35.
  16. Calero-Rueda, O., F. J. Plou, A. Ballesteros, A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, A. Prieto, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2003. Fungal esterases for pitch control in kraft pulping of Eucalyptus globulus. Relatenz 2003, Varadero, June.
  17. Cortiñas, S., S. Luque, J. R. Álvarez, J. Canaval, and J. Romero. 2002. Microfiltration of kraft black liquors for the removal of colloidal suspended matter (pitch). Desalination 147:49-54.
  18. del Río, J. C., J. Romero, and A. Gutiérrez. 2000. Analysis of pitch deposits produced in Kraft pulp mills using a totally chlorine free bleaching sequence. J. Chromatogr. A 874:235-245.
  19. del Río, J. C., A. Gutiérrez, J. Romero, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2000. Identification of residual lignin markers in eucalypt kraft pulp by Py-GC-MS. Abs. Pyrolysis 2000, 14th Intern. Symp. Analytical Pyrolysis, 2-6 April, Seville.
  20. del Río, J. C., A. Gutiérrez, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2000. Py-GC-MS study of Eucalyptus globulus wood treated with different fungi. Abs. Pyrolysis 2000, 14th Intern. Symp. Analytical Pyrolysis, 2-6 April, Seville.
  21. del Río, J. C., A. Gutiérrez, J. Romero, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. Identification of residual lignin markers in eucalypt kraft pulps by Py-GC/MS. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 58/59:425-433.
  22. del Río, J. C., A. Gutiérrez, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. Py-GC-MS study of Eucalyptus globulus wood treated with different fungi. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 58/59:441-453.
  23. del Río, J. C., A. Gutiérrez, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Identification of a novel series of alkylitaconic acids in wood cultures of Ceriporiopsis subvermispora by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 16:62-68.
  24. del Río, J. C., M. Hernando, P. Laín, A. Gutiérrez, and J. Romero. 2002. Py-GC/MS assessment of speck impurities in Eucalyptus globulus kraft pulps. Abs. Pyrolysis 2002, Leoben, Austria,17-20 September P2-P11.
  25. del Río, J. C., M. Speranza, A. Gutiérrez, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Lignin attack during eucalypt wood decay by selected basidiomycetes: a Py-GC/MS study. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis 64:421-431.
  26. del Río, J. C., M. Hernando, P. Landín, A. Gutiérrez, and J. Romero. 2003. A comprehensive study of different tyoes of speck impurities present in chlorine-free pulps upon Py-GC-MS. J. Anal. Appl. Pyrolysis (in press).
  27. Dorado, J., R. Sierra-Alvarez, F. W. Claassen, and T. A. van Beek. 2001. Utilization of white-rot fungi for pitch control in pulp and paper manufacturing. Afinidad.
  28. Ekman, R. and B. Holmbom. 2003. The chemistry of wood resin, p. 37-76. In E. L. Back and L. H. Allen (eds.), Pitc control, wood resin and deresination. TAPPI Press, Atlanta.
  29. Gutiérrez, A., M. J. Martínez, J. C. del Río, J. Romero, J. Canaval, G. Lenon, and A. T. Martínez.  2000. Fungal pretreatment of Eucalyptus wood can strongly decreases the amount of lipophilic extractives during chlorine-free kraft pulping. Environ. Sci. Technol. 34:3705-3709.
  30. Gutiérrez, A., J. Romero, and J. C. del Río. 2000. Fate of lipophilic extractives during manufacturing of chlorine-free kraft pulp from eucalypt wood. Proc. EWLP'2000, Bordeaux, 3-6 September.
  31. Gutiérrez, A., M. J. Martínez, J. C. del Río, J. Romero, and A. T. Martínez. 2000. Biological removal of lipophilic extractives involved in pitch deposition during manufacturing of high-quality pulp from eucalypt wood. Proc. TAPPI Pulping Confer. , Boston, 5-9 Nov.
  32. Gutiérrez, A., J. Romero, and J. C. del Río. 2001. Lipophilic extractives from Eucalyptus globulus pulp during kraft cooking followed by TCF and ECF bleaching. Holzforschung 55:260-264.
  33. Gutiérrez, A., J. Romero, and J. C. del Río. 2001. Lipophilic extractives in process waters during manufacturing of totally chlorine free kraft pulp from eucalypt wood. Chemosphere 44:1237-1242.
  34. Gutiérrez, A., J. C. del Río, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. The biotechnological control of pitch in paper pulp manufacturing. Trends Biotechnol. 19:340-348.
  35. Gutiérrez, A., M. J. Martínez, J. C. del Río, J. Romero, M. J. Martínez-Íñigo, G. Lenon, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. Pitch troubles in the manufacturing of eucalypt kraft pulps: The potential of biological control. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June.
  36. Gutiérrez, A. and J. C. del Río. 2001. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry demonstration of steryl glycosides in eucalypt wood, kraft pulp and process liquids. Rapid Commun. Mass Spectrom. 15:2515-2520.
  37. Gutiérrez, A., J. C. del Río, M. J. Martínez-Íñigo, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Production of new unsaturated lipids during wood decay by ligninolytic basidiomycetes. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:1344-1350.
  38. Gutiérrez, A., J. C. del Río, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Lignin degradation by manganese peroxidase-mediated lipid peroxidation: Identification of new unsaturated fungal metabolites. Proc. 223rd ACS Nat. Meeting, Orlando, 7-11 April.
  39. Gutiérrez, A. and J. C. del Río. 2002. Occurrence of steryl glycosides in eucalypt wood, kraft pulp and process liquids. Proc. EWLP'2002,Turku, 26-29 August.
  40. Gutiérrez, A., J. C. del Río, and A. T. Martínez. 2003. Chemical analysis and biological removal of wood lipids forming pitch deposits in paper pulp manufacturing In J. F. T. Spencer (ed.), Protocols in Environmental Microbiology. Humana Press, Totowa, USA.
  41. Hannuksela, T. and B. Holmbom.  2001. Sorption of mannans to cellulosic fibres and interactions with wood pitch. Proc. 11th ISWPC, Nice, 11-14 June I:379-382.
  42. Hannuksela, T., P. Fardim, and B. Holmbom. 2002. Sorption of acetylated galactoglucomannans onto different pulp fibers. Cellulose (in press).
  43. Hannuksela, T. and B. Holmbom.  2002. Stabilization of wood resin emulsions by dissolved galactoglucomannans and galactomannans. Proc. EWLP'2002,Turku, 26-29 August131-134.
  44. Hannuksela, T., M. Tenkanen, and B. Holmbom. 2003. Sorption of dissolved galactoglucomannans and galactomannans to bleach kraft pulp. Cellulose 9:251-261.
  45. Hannuksela, T. and B. Holmbom. 2003. Sorption of mannans to different fiber surfaces: An evolution of understanding In P. Gatenholm (ed.), Xylans, mannans and other hemicellulose: Biology, chemistry, and technology. ACS, Washington, DC.
  46. Holmbom, B. 2000. Analysis of wood resin. International Workshop on Pitch Control, Wood Resin and Deresination, STFI, Stockholm, January 20-21.
  47. Holmbom, B. 2000. Resin reactions and deresination in bleaching, p. 231-244. In E. L. Back and L. H. Allen (eds.), Pitch control, wood resin and deresination. Tappi Press, Atlanta.
  48. Holmbom, B. and K. Sundberg. 2000. Pitch and stickies remediation in pulp and paper manufacture. Proc. Paper and Coating Chemistry Symposium, Stockholm, June 6-8.
  49. Holmbom, B. 2000. Resin reactions and deresination in bleaching. International Workshop on Pitch Control, Wood Resin and Deresination, STFI, Stockholm, January 20-21.
  50. Holmbom, B. and A. Sundberg. 2002. Dissolved and colloidal contaminants accumulating in the wet end. Proc. Scientific Advances in Wet End Chemistry, Pira International, Leatherhead.
  51. Holmbom, B. 2002. Dissolved and colloidal contaminants accumulating in the wet end. Proc. Scientific Advances in Wet End Chemistry, Pira International, Vienna.
  52. Ibarra, D., J. Romero, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Isolation, purification and FT-IR characterization of high-purity residual lignins from eucalypt kraft pulps. Proc. EWLP'2002,Turku, 26-29 August.
  53. Ibarra, D., J. C. del Río, A. Gutiérrez, I. M. Rodríguez, J. Romero, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2003. Enzymatic isolation and chemical characterization of high-purity residual lignins from eucalypt paper pulps. Enzyme Microb. Technol. (submitted).
  54. Karlsson, S., B. Holmbom, A. Mustranta, and J. Buchert. 2001. Modification of wood extractives with laccases. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June193.
  55. Karlsson, S., B. Holmbom, P. Spetz, A. Mustranta, and J. Buchert. 2001. Reactivity of Trametes laccases with fatty and resin acids. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 55:317-320.
  56. Kontkanen, H., A. Mustranta, P. Spetz, J. Buchert, B. Holmbom, and M. Tenkanen. 2001. Production of esterases hydrolysing steryl esters. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June190.
  57. Kontkanen, H. and T. Reinikainen. 2003. Enzymatic characterization of a steryl esterase from Melanocarpus albomyces. Unknown (to be submitted).
  58. Kontkanen, H., M. Tenkanen, and T. Reinikainen. 2003. A novel steryl esterase from Melanocarpus albomyces. Metagenomics 2003, Darmstadt, 12-13- June.
  59. Martínez-Íñigo, M. J., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez.  2000. Time course of fungal removal of lipophilic extractives from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. wood. J. Biotechnol. 84:119-126.
  60. Martínez, A. T. 2003. Biotechnology for the pulp and paper industry: The potential of fungi and their enzymes. Proc. Intern. Symp. Fungal Biotechnology, Seville, 6-7 March.
  61. Martínez, M. J., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, J. M. Barrasa, M. J. Martínez-Íñigo, J. Romero, J. Canaval, and A. T. Martínez. 2000. Procedimiento de control biológico de compuestos lipofílicos en la fabricación de pasta de papel a partir de madera de frondosas. Patent (Spain) No. 200000018 (5-Jan-2000).
  62. Martínez, M. J., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, J. M. Barrasa, M. J. Martínez-Íñigo, J. Romero, J. Canaval, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. Method for the biological control of lipophilic compounds used in the manufacture of paper pulp from hardwood. Patent (International) No. WO 02/057539 A1 (PCT ES01 00014; application 19-Jan-01).
  63. Minning, S., J. Vind, S. O. S. Glad, S. Danielsen, and K. Borch. 2002. Lipolytic enzyme variant. Patent (International) No. WO 02/055679 A2 (international publication date: 18 July 2002).
  64. Mustranta, A., J. Buchert, P. Spetz, and B. Holmbom. 2001. Treatment of mechanical pulp and process waters with lipases. Nordic Pulp Paper Res. J. 16:125-129.
  65. Otero, D., K. Sundberg, A. Blanco, C. Negro, and B. Holmbom. 2000. Effect of wood polysaccharides on the depositability of wood pitch. Nordic Pulp Paper Res. J. 15:607-613.
  66. Otero, D., K. Sundberg, A. Blanco, C. Negro, J. Tijero, and B. Holmbom. 2001. The effects of polysaccharides on the depositability of wood pitch. Nordic Pulp Paper Res. J. (submitted).
  67. Petit-Conil, M., F. Bertaud, T. A. van Beek, T. Tienvieri, and G. Lenon. 2002. Fungal treatment of spruce wood for pitch control during mechanical pulping. Proc. COST E23 Workshop, Grenoble, 28-29 November.
  68. Petit-Conil, M., F. Bertaud, G. Lenon, and T. A. van Beek. 2003. Fungal treatment for pitch control before mechanical pulping - Pilot trials. CTP'Forum (4-Feb-03).
  69. Qin, M., T. Hannuksela, and B. Holmbom. 2003. Physico-chemical characterization of TMP resin and related model mixtures. Colloids Surfaces A 221:243-254.
  70. Saarimaa, V. 2002. Purification of peroxide bleached TMP waters by microflotation. M.Sc Thesis, Åbo Akademie, Turku.
  71. Saparrat, M. C. N., A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martinez. 2003. Control biológico de los depósitos del "pitch" en la fabricación de pasta de papel: Degradación de sitosterol en cultivos de basidiomicetos. Abs. SEM'2003 (19th Spanish Congr. Microbiol. ) Santiago de Compostela, 21-25 Sept.
  72. Speranza, M., A. Gutiérrez, A. T. Martínez, L. Bettucci, and M. J. Martínez. 2000. Degradación de compuestos lipofílicos y lignina de Eucalyptus globulus por hongos ailados en plantaciones de Uruguay. Proc. Congreso Nacional de Micología, Cáceres, Sept.
  73. Speranza, M., M. J. Martínez, and A. T. Martínez. 2001. Wood and pulp localization of sterols involved in pitch deposition using fluorescent filipin staining. Proc. 11th ISWPC, Nice, 11-14 June.
  74. Speranza, M., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, A. T. Martínez, L. Bettucci, and M. J. Martínez. 2001. Biodegradation of pitch problematic compounds and lignin in Eucalyptus globulus wood by fungi isolated from Uruguay. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June.
  75. Speranza, M., L. Bettucci, A. Ferraz, A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, J. Romero, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Biopulping and biodepitching of eucalypt wood: fungi from the nature to the mill. Proc. 5th latino-americano de Biotecnología, Montevideo (Uruguay), October.
  76. Speranza, M., A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, A. Ferraz, J. Romero, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Aplicación de basidiomicetos aislados en plantaciones de eucalipto para el biopulpeo y eliminación de extraíbles durante la fabricación de pasta de papel. Abs. IV Congr. Latinoamer. Micol. , Xalapa (Veracruz), México533.
  77. Speranza, M., M. J. Martínez, A. Gutiérrez, J. C. del Río, and A. T. Martínez. 2002. Wood and pulp localization of sterols involved in pitch deposition using filipin fluorescent staining. J. Pulp Paper Sci. 28:292-297.
  78. Speranza, M., A. Gutiérrez, J. A. del Río, J. Romero, A. T. Martínez, and M. J. Martínez. 2002. Eucalypt wood pretreatment with Phanerochaete crassa and Peniophora lycii decreased pitch content after laboratory kraft cooking. Proc. IMC7, Oslo, 11-17 August358.
  79. Sundberg, K., E. Bergelin, J. Hemming, and B. Holmbom. 2001. Extraction of wood, pulp and water - Recent experiences regarding the choice of solvents and extraction conditions. Proc. Post-Symp. 11 ISWPC on Advanced Methods for Lignocellulosics and Paper Products Characterization,Grenoble, 18-19 June199-202.
  80. Tenkanen, M., H. Kontkanen, R. Isoniemi, P. Spetz, B. Holmbom, and J. Buchert. 2001. Degradation of steryl esters by a lipase (Lip 3) from Candida rugosa. Abs. 8th Intern. Conf. Biotechnology in the Pulp and Paper Industry, Helsinki, 4-8 June191.
  81. Tenkanen, M., H. Kontkanen, R. Isoniemi, P. Spetz, and B. Holmbom. 2002. Hydrolysis of steryl esters by a lipase (Lip 3) from Candida rugosa. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 60:120-127.
  82. van Beek, T. A., B. Kuster, F. W. Claassen, F. Bertaud, and G. Lenon. 2002. Fungal treatment of spruce wood for pitch control: Chemical and toxicological effects. Proc. Symp. Future Trends in Phytochemistry, Gargnano, Italy, 22-25 May.
  83. van Beek, T. A., B. Kuster, F. W. Claassen, T. Tienvieri, F. Bertaud, G. Lenon, and M. Petit-Conil. 2003. Fungal bio-treatment of spruce wood with Trametes versicolor for pitch control: Influnce on extractives content, pulping process parameters, paper quality, and effluent toxicity. J. Biotechnol. (submitted).


Project partners:

1. CIB (Research Institute)
Coordinator: Angel T. Martínez
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Department of Molecular Microbiology, Ramiro de Maeztu nº 9, E-28040 Madrid, Spain. Phone: 34 918373112 (ext 4407); Fax: 34 915360432; E-mail: ATMartinez@cib.csic.es

2. CTP (Technical Center)
Scientific responsible: Gilles Lenon
Centre Technique du Papier, Domaine Universitaire, BP. 251, 38044 Grenoble Cedex 9, France. Phone: 33 476154015 (ext 55); Fax: 33 476154016; E-mail: Gilles.Lenon@ctp.inpg.fr

3. ENCE (Pulp Company)
Scientific responsible: Javier Romero
Grupo ENCE, Research & Technology Center, Carretera Campañó-Ribeiro Vao s/n, Pontevedra, Spain. Phone: +34 986872303; Fax: +34 986873364; E-mail jromero@ence.es

4. IRNAS (Research Institute)
Scientific responsible: José Carlos del Río
Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, Reina Mercedes 10. PO Box 1052, E-41080 Sevilla, Spain. Phone: +34 95-462-4711; Fax: +34 95-462-4002; E-mail: delrio@irnase.csic.es

5. Novo (Biotechnology Company)
Scientific responsible: Kim Borch
Novozymes A/S, Lipolytic Enzymes, 6B3, 74, Smormosevej 25, 2880 Bagsvaerd, Denmark. Phone: +45 88249999; Fax +45 44427535; E-mail: kimb@novozymes.com

6. UPM (Pulp Company)
Scientific responsible: Taisto Tienveri
United Paper Mills-Kymmene, Phone: 358 204162123; Fax: 358204162162; E-mail: Taisto.Tienvieri@upm-kymmene.com

7. VTT (Technical Center)
Scientific responsible: Richard Fagerström
VTT Biotechnology, PO Box 1500, Fin-02044 VTT (Espoo), Finland. Phone: 358 94564472; Fax: 358 94552103; E-mail: Richard.Fagerstrom@vtt.fi

8. WU (University)
Scientific responsible: Dr. Teris A. van Beek
Wageningen University, Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, P.O. Box 8026, 6700 EG Wageningen (The Netherlands). Phone: +31 317 48 23 76; Fax: +31 317 48 49 14; E-mail: Teris.vanBeek@Bio.oc.wag-ur.nl

9. AAU (University)
Scientific responsible: Bjarne Holmbom
Åbo Akademi University, Lab. Forest Products Chemistry, FIN-20500 Turku/Åbo, Finland. Phone: 358 22154229; Fax: 358 22154868; E-mail: bholmbom@mail.abo.fi

10. UCM (University)
Scientific responsible: Angeles Blanco
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Chemical Engineering Department, Faculty of Chemistry, Madrid, Spain. Phone: +34 913944247; Fax: +34 913944243; E-mail: ablanco@eucmos.sim.ucm.es

11. PHC, Inc. (Biotechnology Company)
Scientific responsible: Diane P. Williams
Plant Health Care, 14 Church St., Hopkinton, MA 01748, USA. Phone: (508)497-3490; (508)435-8226 (direct & voice mail), Fax: (508)435-8208, E-mail: phcwilliams@rcn.com

 

 

Picture of partners taken during the last meeting held at VTT, Finland (June 30th 2003)

From left to right:  Jouko Letto (UPM), Hanna Kontkanen (VTT), Teris A. van Beek (WAU), Tea Hannuksela (AAU), Taisto Tienveri (UPM), Angeles Blanco (UCM), Kim Borch (NOVO), Ana Gutiérrez (IRNAS), José C. del Río (IRNAS), Frédérique Bertaud (CTP), Stefan Minning (NOVO), Bjarne Holmbom (AAU), Tapani Reinikainen (VTT), Javier Romero (ENCE), Angel T. Martínez (CIB).The picture was taken by Carlos Negro (UCM).

 


Links to related sites:

PROJECTS:

"Wood Extractives in Pulp and Paper Manufacture: Technical and Environmental Implications and Biological Removal"  (European Project FAIR CT95-560, 1995-99)
"Biological delignification in paper manufacture: Optimization of enzyme mixtures for treating cereal straw and other non-woody materials" (European
Project AIR2 CT93 1219 560, 1994-97)

COST ACTIONS: http://www.vtt.fi/bel/coste23/index.htm

Action E23. "Biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry" (VTT web-page)
Action E23. "Biotechnology in the pulp and paper industry" (web-page of the Spanish groups)

 

 

Visits from September 14th, 2000