Method for Making Lignocellulosic Paper and Paper Products

Abstract

Enzyme compositions comprising laccase, lipase, cationic polymer, and optionally laccase activator, for papermaking application are disclosed. It also relates to the use of the enzyme composition to improve dry strength property of a paper product made from lignocellulosic-containing materials before or after mechanical refining in a papermaking process.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of making a paper product with improved dry strength comprising:
 providing a pulp furnish or suspension having a temperature of from about 20° C. to about 70° C. and pH of from about 4.0 to 9.0;   treating the pulp furnish or suspension with a composition comprising from about 3 wt. % to about 40 wt. % dry weight of total composition laccase and from about 1 wt. % to about 80 wt. % dry weight of total composition lipase, wherein the laccase has at least 12 LAMU of laccase activity and the lipase has from about 0.1 to about 10 KLU of lipase activity per Kg of dry fiber, and wherein the composition is added over a period of at least 0.1 hours;   optionally refining the treated pulp furnish or suspension using a mechanical refiner for wood fiber;   optionally adding additional papermaking additives to the pulp furnish; and   drying and forming the pulp furnish into the desired paper product.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein pulp furnish or suspension is recycled OCC fiber. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the optional papermaking additive is selected from the group consisting of starch, starch derivatives, polyacrylamide derivatives, guar, poly(vinylamine), polyethyleneimine, urea formaldehyde resin, epichlorohydrin reacted poly(aminoamide), starch aldehyde and glycoxylated polyacrylamide, flocculants, retention aids, drainage aids, debonders, softeners, sizing agents for paper products, and creping adhesives and enzymes. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the enzymes are selected from the group consisting of cellulases, hemicellulases, amylases, proteases, lipases, esterases, pectinases, lyases, pectate lyase, cellulase, oxidoreductases, glucose oxidases, and peroxidases. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the dry strength composition can be added to the papermaking process either before, during or after mechanical refining in a papermaking process.