Application of fungi in biotechnological processes for the pulp and paper industry

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Date
2001-11
Authors
Dunn, Carin
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
English: Lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose occur together in wood and agricultural wastes that are used in industries such as the pulp and paper industry. Biodegradation could be applied by these industries to save cost and reduce environmental impact. Lignocellulose degradation is very complex and must be understood for the optimisation of biotechnological processes. White-rot fungi degrade lignin, cellulose and hemicellulose while brown-rot fungi modify lignin slightly, but also break down cellulose and hemicellulose. The most important enzymes in lignin degradation are manganese peroxidase, lignin peroxidase and laccase, which these fungi produce extracellularly. Decay fungi establish on organic material, which leads to the degradation of lignocellulose during the colonization process. A distinction must be made between primary and secondary colonisers during degradation, because of succession that takes place. Ophiostoma piliferum is an example of a primary coloniser, which is used to produce Cartapip 9if). This product was developed to treat wood chips during storage to reduce fibre degradation. The fungus was previously not available in South Africa because of a possible threat to local forest species. South African forestry companies wanted to test Cartapip 97® in industrial processes and it was, therefore, necessary to demonstrate that the fungus is not pathogenic. It also had to be confirmed that the fungus is a strain of 0. piliferum before certification and importation into South Africa would be allowed. Cultural and morphological characteristics of the anamorph of the Cartapip fungus were found to be similar to those of O. piliferum and it was released for field trials. The pathogenicity of the fungus was compared with Ophiostoma ips and Sphaeropsis sapinea, causes of sapstain on Pinus spp. in South Afiica, to demonstrate that O. piliferum does not pose a threat to forestry. Different pine species were inoculated and the results indicated that O. piliferum is not a pathogen and it is, therefore, safe to use Cartapip 9if) in South Afiica. Hardwood and softwood chips were subsequently treated with Cartapip 97® and pulped using different pulping methods, but the benefits were not obvious. It is, however, possible that the extractives content of the chips was reduced. A slight increase in strength of kraft pulp from softwood and hardwood and also of Soda-AQ pulp from A. mearnsii, was observed after pre-treatment with Cartapip 97®. Bagasse contains fibres that can be used for the production of paper. However, bagasse has to be stored for long periods during which time decay occurs. Stored bagasse could be pre-treated with fungi to preserve and possibly improve the quality of the bagasse. In this study, Lenzites betulina and Pycnoporus sanguineus were used to treat bagasse before pulping. Inoculum production, pulping processes and different incubation periods were evaluated to optimise biopulping. Ultrastructural studies of treated bagasse were used to determine the effect that fungal treatment has on bagasse. Pulping results obtained from bagasse treated with L. betulina were variable and P. sanguineus did not improve the pulping. These results indicated that colonisation and degradation strategies of biopulping fungi must be fully understood before an attempt is made to optimize pulping processes.
Afrikaans: Lignien, hemisellulose en sellulose kom saam voor in hout- en landboureste wat in nywerhede soos die pulp- en papiernywerheid gebruik word. Die toepassing van bio-afbraak kan koste bespaar en die omgewingsimpak van die bedryf verminder. Bioafbraak word gevolglik op baie terreine in die pulp- en papierindustrie toegepas. Lignosellulose-afbraak is ingewikkeld en moet volkome verstaan word vir die optimalisering van biotegnologiese prosesse. Witvrot fungi breek lignien, sellulose en hemisellulose af terwyl bruinvrot fungi lignien tot 'n mate kan modifiseer, maar ook sellulose en hemisellulose afbreek. Die belangrikste ensieme in lignienafbraak is mangaan-peroksidase, lignienperoksidase en lakkase wat buitesellulêr deur die fungi vevaardig word. Verrottingsfungi vestig hulself op organiese materiaal wat lei tot die afbraak van lignosellulose tydens die koloniseringsproses. Onderskeid moet getref word tussen primêre en sekondêre koloniseerders tydens afbraak, want 'n opeenvolging vind plaas. Ophiostoma piliferum is 'n voorbeeld van 'n primêre koloniseerder en word gebruik om Cartapip 97® te vervaardig. Hierdie produk is ontwikkel om houtskerfies tydens berging te behandel om veselafbraak te verminder. Die fungus was voorheen nie in Suid-Afrika beskikbaar nie, want dit kon moontlik gevaar inhou vir spesies in plaaslike plantasies. Die Suid-Afrikaanse bosbou nywerheid het belanggestelom Cartapip 97® in industriële prosesse te toets en gevolglik was dit nodig om te demonstreer dat die fungus nie patogenies is nie. Dit moes ook bevestig word dat die fungus wel 'n isolaat van Ophiostoma piliferum is voordat dit as veilig gesertifiseer kon word vir invoer in Suid- Afrika. Kultuur- en morfologiese eienskappe van die anamorf van die Cartapip-fungus het getoon dat dit soortgelyk was aan die eienskappe van 0. pi/iferum en dit is gevolglik vrygestel vir veldproewe. Die patogenisiteit van die fungus is vergelyk met Ophiostoma ips en Sphaeropsis sapinea wat houtverkleuring van Pinus spp. in Suid-Afrika veroorsaak. Die vergelyking is getref om te demonstreer dat O. piliferum nie 'n gevaar inhou vir bosbou nie. Verskillende dennespesies is geïnokuleer en die resultate het getoon dat 0. piliferum nie 'n patogeen is nie en dat dit ook veilig is om Cartapip 97® in Suid-Afrika te gebruik. Hardehout- en sagtehoutskerfies is gevolglik behandel met Cartapip 97® en verpulp volgens verskillende metodes, maar geen duidelike voordele is waargeneem nie. Dit is wel moontlik dat die harsinhoud van die hout verminder is. 'n Toename in die sterkte-eienskappe van kraftpulp van sagte- en hardehout en ook van Soda-AQ pulp van A. mearnsii, is waargeneem na die voorafbehandeling met Cartapip 97®. Bagasse bevat vesels wat gebruik kan word in papiervevaardiging. Bagasse word egter vir lang tydperke gestoor wat lei tot die afbraak van die vesels. Fungi kan moontlik gebruik word om bagasse te preserveer en moontlik die kwaliteit te verbeter. Lenzites betu/ina en Pycnoporus sanguineus is in hierdie studie gebruik om bagasse voor verpulping te behandel. lnokulumvervaardiging, verpulpingsprosesse en verskillende inkubasie-tydperke is geëvalueer om bioverpulping te optirniseer. Studies van die ultrastruktuur van behandelede bagasse is gebruik om die uitwerking van voorafbehandeling op bagasse te bestudeer. Verpulpingsresultate wat verkry is van bagasse wat met L. betu/ina behandel is, het baie gewissel en P. sanguineus het verpulping nie verbeter nie. Hierdie resultate het getoon dat die kolonisasie- en afbraakstrategieë van fungi vir bioverpulping ten volle verstaan moet word voordat dit aangewend kan word om verpulpingsprosesse te optirniseer.
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Keywords
Bagasse, Biodegradation,, Biopulping,, Cartapip, Enzymes, Lignocellulose Ophiostoma piliferum, White-rot fungi, Wood chips, Biodegradation, Fungi -- Biotechnology, Fungi -- Industrial applications, Dissertation (M.Sc. (Microbiology and Biochemistry))--University of the Free State, 2001
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