Cellulase Composition for Paper Dry Strength and Refining Energy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cellulase products used in papermaking often negatively impact dry strength properties of paper products due to defibrillation of cellulosic fibers and increased chemical oxygen demand, while there is a lack of clear mechanisms for improving dry strength using cellulase in the papermaking process.

Innovation Solution

A cellulase composition comprising mono-component endo-cellulases, cationic fixatives, nonionic detackifying polymers, cellulase protein stabilizers, and enhancers is used to treat cellulosic fibers prior to mechanical refining, optimizing endo-cellulase activity and stability to enhance dry strength without defibrillating fibers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If commercial cellulase containing exo-cellulase activity is used to treat cellulosic fibers, then pulp drainage is improved, but fiber loss increases and dry strength properties deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepulp drainageVSAvoiddry strength properties

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts and removes the harmful exo-cellulase activity from commercial cellulase products through purification processes, retaining only the beneficial endo-cellulase activity. This selective extraction allows the enzyme composition to improve pulp drainage through endo-cellulase-mediated fibrillation while preventing fiber loss and strength deterioration that would result from exo-cellulase defibrillation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention segments the cellulase activity into distinct functional components by separating endo-cellulase from exo-cellulase activities. This segmentation enables independent control of beneficial effects (fibrillation and drainage improvement from endo-cellulase) and harmful effects (fiber loss and strength reduction from exo-cellulase), allowing optimization of one function without suffering the negative consequences of the other.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Use of energy by moving object

If cellulase treatment is applied to improve fibrillation, then refining energy is reduced, but fiber defibrillation occurs leading to decreased dry strength

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverefining energyVSAvoiddry strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention converts the potential harm of cellulase defibrillation activity into a benefit by using controlled endo-cellulase treatment to create beneficial surface fibrillation that enhances fiber bonding. The purified endo-cellulase composition provides fibrillation that improves dry strength, while the absence of exo-cellulase prevents the harmful defibrillation that would reduce strength, thus converting what could be a harmful process into a beneficial one.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Quantity of substance

If multi-component cellulase is used for comprehensive cellulose degradation, then complete hydrolysis is achieved, but fiber integrity is compromised and dry strength is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellulose degradation completenessVSAvoidfiber integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts only the specific endo-cellulase component from multi-component cellulase preparations, removing exo-cellulases and other enzymes that would compromise fiber integrity. This selective extraction maintains complete hydrolysis capability for the intended application while preserving fiber strength by eliminating enzymes that cause excessive defibrillation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cellulase composition improves dry strength properties of paper products by maintaining fiber length and reducing energy consumption in mechanical refining, while minimizing negative effects on pulp viscosity and chemical oxygen demand, with enhanced storage stability and tolerance to overdosing.

Implementation Method 1

endo-cellulases...catalyze the hydrolysis of β-1, 4-glycosidic bonds of cellulose molecule

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHydrolysis: Hydrolysis

Implementation Method 2

cationic fixatives and/or nonionic detackifying polymers

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Data Source

PatentEP2906750B1Cellulase composition containing cellulase and papermaking polymers for paper dry strength application

Publication Date: 2018.03.07 SOLENIS TECHNOLOGIES CAYMAN LP

AI summary

Disclosed herein are cellulase compositions useful as papermaking performance additives for improving paper dry strength of a paper product and reducing refining energy in papermaking processes, and improving paper production. These cellulase compositions are formulated using cellulase, papermaking contaminant control polymers, protein stabilizers and cellulase enhancers. These cellulase compositions measure higher in endo-cellulase activity with better stability than conventional cellulase, and have shown differentiating performance- in improving paper dry- strength properties versus cellulase alone.