Factors influencing enzyme deinking of recycled fiber

Although there has been considerable research on enzymatic drinking, there is a fundamental lack of understanding of how mixtures of cellulases and hemicellulases can enhance the deinking of repulped paper products. In this research, cotton fabrics instead of paper were used as the substrate for enzyme deinking to understand better the influence of different conditions on the fiber surface. The results show that the cleavage of the cellulose polymers allows the deinking to take place. The accessibility of enzymes to the cellulose chains that bond the ink to the surface of the fiber was found to be a very important factor for deinking.