Two-step enzyme treatment to improve the quality and forming performance of wheat straw chemical-mechanical pulp.

In light of the challenges associated with low yield, inadequate water filtration, and slow drying rates in wheat straw chemical-mechanical pulp (WSCMP), this study devised a two-step enzyme treatment method integrated into the chemical-mechanical pulping process. By using mixed lipase/pectinase pre-treatment of wheat straw and xylanase post-treatment of WSCMP, the properties of yield, water retention value and drying rate of the enzyme-treated pulp were evaluated. The results showed that a lipase/pectinase dosage of 20 IU/g effectively enhanced the alkali penetration effect, leading to an increase in pulp yield after refining from 78.1% to 81.5%. The xylanase treatment effectively removed hemicelluloses from the fiber surface of the pulp. As the xylanase dosage was increased from 0 to 30 IU/g, the water retention value of the pulp was reduced from 307% to 247%, the water filtration time was shortened from 56 to 47 s, and the maximum drying rate reached 4.467 kg/(m2 h). This work provides a process reference for the high-quality and low-energy consumption production of WSCMP. [Display omitted] • A two-step enzyme treatment method was designed to prepare wheat straw chemical-mechanical pulp. • Mixed lipase/pectinase pre-treatment could improve the alkali penetration effect. • The water retention value of the pulp was reduced from 307% to 247%. • The drying rate of the pulp was increased by more than 30% with xylanase post-treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]