New Method to Whiten Wood Pulp Found in Israel

[Pawel Gluszynski <uugluszy@cyf-kr.edu.pl>]

New Method to Whiten Wood Pulp Found in Israel JERUSALEM 
(Nov. 17) XINHUA 

An environment-friendly technique to whiten wood pulp
has been developed and refined by researchers of Haifa Technion
university, in north Israel. The researchers believe that the
method, using enzymes and much less chlorine than in conventional
bleaching, will reduce pollution of the environment.

The method is not more expensive than the use of large amounts
of chlorine and has been successfully tested in a large-scale
paper-mill trial, they said.  Cholorine aromatic compounds, a
key chemical used in paper making, are both toxic and
carcinogenic -- a heavy polluter of environment.  Laws in some
countries have limited the amounts of chlorine that may be used,
thus forcing the paper companies to look for alternative
whiteners. Most enzymes are active at neutral of acidic pH
and at relatively low temperatures (below 45 degrees
Centigrade), but conditions in paper mills are more extreme than
these.

The Israeli researchers first isolated bacteria capable of
producing suitable enzymes, cultivated them in the lab, and
manufactured industrial quantities of them.
After five years of work, the researching team found the
enzymes can function under basic conditions and under
temperatures as high as 65 degrees Centigrade.

The technique is now being commercialized, and the researchers
believed the world's paper industry will soon use the enzymes to
minimize, and eventually eliminate, the use of chlorine for
paper bleaching, thus contributing to a better environment.

17/11/96 Greenpeace Greenbase News