Biotechnologies in the paper industry

Biotechnology is currently regarded as a promising tool in the process of converting wood into unbleached or bleached pulp.

In nature, there are a large number of microorganisms—particularly fungi—that break down wood through the secretion of substances (containing enzymes). Furthermore, some of these fungi have the unique ability to carry out highly selective degradation, removing lignin and “undesirable” compounds from the wood while preserving the cellulose. Research into these fungi has naturally led to the development of techniques for controlling this selective degradation of certain wood components during the preparation of paper pulp.

There are two possible approaches: one involves the use of microorganisms (primarily white rot fungi), and the other involves the direct application of enzymes that catalyze the breakdown of certain wood components.

In the early 1980s, the main areas of research on the use of biotechnology focused on wastewater treatment, mechanical pulping using biological processes, and cellulose hydrolysis. During the 1990s, significant progress was made in the use of specialized enzymes for wood degradation to improve the bleaching of paper pulp. Today, biotechnology is being studied for applications covering the entire wood-to-paper processing chain (including recycling).