Demethylation and delignification of kraft pulp by Trametes versicolor laccase in the presence of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonate)

• Published in: Applied microbiology and biotechnology Vol. 36; no. 6; pp. 823 - 827
• Main Authors: BOURBONNAIS, R, PAICE, M. G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01-03-1992
• Subjects: 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonate); Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; laccase; lignin; Other applications; pulp; Enzyme; Basidiomycetes; Delignification; Pulp; Fungi; Demethylation; Kraft paper; Bleaching; Release; Thallophyta; Laccase; Methanol; Enzymatic reaction
• ISSN: 0175-7598; 1432-0614
• DOI: 10.1007/BF00172202

Bleaching of hardwood kraft pulp by Trametes versicolor was accompanied by release and accumulation of methanol, which was produced by demethylation of the pulp. A partial demethylation of the pulp was observed with isolated laccase I from T. versicolor . The extent of demethylation by laccase was increased to the level released by the fungus by addition of 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulponate) (ABTS). Methanol release by the laccase/ABTS combination was followed by slower kappa reduction. Both methanol release and kappa reduction were dependent on laccase and ABTS concentrations. The fungus did not produce a stable equivalent of ABTS during bleaching, because extracellular culture fluid from bleaching cultures gave only the same methanol release from pulp as laccase I.