Biomechanical pulping with Phlebiopsis gigantea reduced energy consumption and increased paper strength : [summary]

Abstract

Biomechanical pulping of whole logs pretreated with Phlebiopsis gigantea was investigated in several studies using loblolly and red pine. Results from these studies showed P. gigantea was able to colonize 90 to 100% of the freshly cut logs after 8 weeks, with little variation between replicate treatments. Up to a 59% decrease in resinous wood extractives was observed in loblolly and red pine logs inoculated with P. gigantea as compared to noninoculated logs. Simonsa staining, used to evaluate cell wall changes in mechanically refined pulp fibers during biological pulping processes, showed 55 to 77% of the fibers from treated logs stained, while 25 to 58% of the fibers from aged control logs stained. Refined wood from inoculated logs required less energy (9 to 27%) to reach a freeness of 100 Canadian Standard of Freeness than wood from non-inoculated logs. Pretreatment of red pine logs with P. gigantea also resulted in a 17%, 20%, and 13% increase in burst, tear, and tensile strength properties, respectively, as compared to paper derived from non-inoculated logs.

Citation

Behrendt, Chad J.; Blanchette, Robert A.; Akhtar, Masood.; Enebak, Scott.; Iverson, Sara.; Williams, Diane. 2000. Biomechanical pulping with Phlebiopsis gigantea reduced energy consumption and increased paper strength : [summary]. Tappi journal. Vol. 83, no. 9 (Sept. 2000).:p. 65.