Biobleaching of flax by degradation of lignin with laccase

Abstract

Research on lignin biodegradation has become of great interest, due to the fact that lignin is one of the most abundant renewable materials, next to cellulose. Lignin is also the substance that gives color to raw flax fibers. In order to bleach the flax and to keep its tenacity high enough for textile applications, it is necessary to remove the lignin and partially to preserve the pectin. Lignin and pectin are the main constituents of the layer which sticks the flax cells together within the multicellular technical fiber. White-rot fungi and their oxidative enzymes, laccases and peroxid-ases (lignin peroxidases and manganese peroxidases), are being applied for the biobleaching of papermaking pulp, thereby reducing the need for environmentally harmful chemicals. Some data also suggest that it is possible to use other phenolytic enzymes, such as pure laccase, for this purpose. The objective of the present work was to study the possibility of bleaching flax fibers by pure laccase and combined laccase peroxide treatment, aimed at obtaining fibers with high whiteness and well-preserved tenacity.

Comparison of Bio and Eco-technologies with Chemical Methods for Pre-treatment of Flax Fibers: Impact on Fiber Properties

“…The use of pectate lyase which acts in alkaline conditions was shown to maintain fiber strength [10]. Other enzymes such as laccases have been also used, alone or in combination with other enzymes or other chemical products for the biobleaching of flax fibers [11][12][13][14].…”