De Inking using using an enzyme xylanase

M.Tech 2012-2014 Page 1

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
Paper recycling is a large scale, multi-step process with the objective to recover the paper
fibers, and often other paper components such as mineral fillers, and use them as a raw
material to produce new paper. Depending on the types of paper sourced for recycling
and the final application, each recycling system is optimized accordingly. Typically kraft
papers, corrugated board and packaging board are segregated from graphical papers at the
collection and sorting step. Almost all papers can be recovered and, with the proper
processing, be used to produce new paper. The importance of paper recycling and
deinking can be seen in The European Declaration on Paper Recycling where it stated
Close attention is also being paid to improving the recyclability and where applicable
the deinkability of paper-based products.
The demand for papers continues to be strong despite the general believe
that advancement in information technology and computerization would result in a
paperless global society. Malaysia needs to double its capacity in paper production if the
country is to achieve the state of self-suYciency by the year 2010. However, one of the
major obstacles faced by the paper making industries in Malaysia is the lack of raw
materials and therefore, most of the papers products consumed in the country are
imported, worth about of US$0.70 billion in the year 2000 with an annual increment of
10% (Malaysian Pulp and Paper Manufacturer Association, MPPMA). Thus, the search
for new sources of Wbers for paper making becomes important in ensuring the survival of
the countrys paper industries in the near future. Although, new Wbers have been
considered particularly from non-wood lignocellulolytic materials such as oil palm trunks
Wbers and kenaf Wbers (a species of Hibiscus plant), the quality of the papers produced
remains uncompetitive with regards to the production cost and the quality of the papers
produced. Thus, recycling of the waste papers must be considered, as an economic
necessity.
1.1 Deinking of Paper
Many types of paper are subject to a deinking step in order to remove ink from the paper
in preparation for producing new paper. Depending on the type of incoming paper and the
requirements of the end product, various types of deinking technologies can be utilized.
The most common types of deinking are the following:

De Inking using using an enzyme xylanase

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1.1.1 Flotation Deinking
Process In flotation deinking ink is removed through addition of chemicals such as
surfactants and subsequent air introduction into the recovered pulp. The hydrophobic
components such as ink particles are then selectively flotated and these components are
then removed in the resulting foam.
Application Flotation deinking is the most widely used method for ink removal in the
deinking of graphic papers such as newsprint and magazine papers and also commonly
used as one of the steps for deinking of papers for the production of hygiene papers.
Flotation deinking is increasingly being used for producing recovered pulp for the white
layers in recycled carton board and white-top corrugated liner.
1.1.2 Bleaching
Process Bleaching, is the destruction of colorants in inks and the brightening of the
pulp using bleaching agents such as hydrogen peroxide and sodium dithionite added
during the pulping step and/or in a separate bleaching step.
Application Bleaching is typically used to brighten recovered pulp for the production
of higher quality graphic papers such as improved newsprint, for other high brightness
recycled printing papers and for hygiene papers.
1.1.3 Washing
Process Washing is the removal of inks and other unwanted components in the
recovered pulp such as mineral fillers by washing the pulp in a diluted form on a wire
screen. The fibers are recovered on the screen and the filtrate is treated to remove the
unwanted solid material. Washing is only effective in the removal of small particle size
inks.
Application Washing is commonly used in the production of hygiene papers since the
mineral fillers in the paper for recycling often lead to a reduction in the quality of the
hygiene products and are therefore desired to be removed. Washing is also sometimes
used as an additional step for producing high quality recovered market pulps from office
papers. Washing is typically not used for the production of graphic papers due to the high
yield loss in this process.
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Most graphic paper recyclers today utilize a two loop flotation deinking system.
Additionally, optional bleaching process capability with oxidative (peroxide) and
sometimes reductive (dithionite) steps is often installed in these processes to enable the
production of higher brightness paper grades such as improved newsprint, or, in
undesirable cases, to compensate for decreased quality of the paper for recycling. These
deinking systems are generally very robust to allow the utilization of printed papers from
many sources. The common design options for state of the art graphic paper deinking are
shown below (image courtesy of INGEDE).

Fig1:State of the art deinking plant

Fig2: Modern graphic paper deinking process
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This project is about removing ink from paper by using an enzyme xylanase.
Xylan is the principal type of hemicellulose. It is a linear polymer of -D-xylopyranosyl
units linked by (1 4) glycosidic bonds. In nature, the polysaccharide backbone may be
added to 4-O-methyl--D-glucuronopyranosylunits, acetyl groups, -L-arabinofuranosyl,
etc., in variable proportions. An enzymatic complex is responsible for the hydrolysis of
xylan, but the main enzymes involved are endo-1,4--xylanase and -xylosidase. These
enzymes are produced by fungi, bacteria, yeast, marine algae, protozoans, snails,
crustaceans, insect, seeds, etc., but the principal commercial source is filamentous fungi.
Recently, there has been much industrial interest in xylan and its hydrolytic enzymatic
complex, as a supplement in animal feed, for the manufacture of bread, food and drinks,
textiles, bleaching of cellulose pulp, ethanol and xylitol production.

Arabinoxylans have been identified in wheat, rye, barley, oat, rice, sorghum, as
well as in some other plants: pangola grass, bamboo shoots and rye grass. Although these
polysaccharides are minor components of entire cereal grains, they constitute an
important part of plant cell walls.Glucuronoxylans and glucuronoarabinoxylans are
located mainly in the secondary wall and function as an adhesive by forming covalent and
non-covalent bonds with lignin, cellulose and other polymers essential to the integrity of
the cell wall. Xylans are the principal class of hemicelluloses in angiosperms contributing
1530% of the total dry weight, but are less abundant in gymnosperms which contain 7
12% xylans. Glucuronoxylans are linear polymers of -D-xylopyranosyl units linked by
(14) glycosidic bonds (xylose), as below: