Role of Glycoside Hydrolases in Pulp and Paper Industries

As paper has become an important part of global consumption, there is a necessity to find a balance between production and resources, when an increase in paper production has been observed within past decades. Diverse technologies are being used for paper production one of them being use of enzyme of microbial origin for better bio-pulping and bio-bleaching results along with easier fibre grafting and de-inking. Though there are many applications of such enzymes in this industry, they are still at early development stage. The most essential feature of using enzymes is that it helps in eco-friendly bio-bleaching of pulps. Xylanase, cellulose free xylanase and occasionally use of laccase are the enzymes being used as a better alternative for reduction in the amount of environmental-polluting chlorine. Endo-β-xylanases, belonging to xylanases, is the key enzyme required for the enzymatic bleaching. The main purpose to adopt such techniques is to reduce the requirement of chlorine containing chemicals for bleaching. Enzymes further increases the pulp brightness making it easier for the industry to go chlorine free, along with improving fibre quality, producing better quality fibre. We will now discuss about the pulp industry and how xylanase enzyme helps in improving the productivity and revolution of the industry in detail in this chapter.