Among four thermophilic moulds, Sporotrichum thermophile produced high titres of xylanases, pectinases and cellulases after 4 days of incubation in solid-state fermentation (SSF). Of the 27 different combinations of agro-residues tried, wheat bran (WB) and citrus pectin (CP) in 1:1 ratio supported a very high production of enzymes. When the mixed substrate at pH 7.0 was moistened with tap water...

In this study, Eucalyptus globulus stumpwood samples collected from six different sites in Portugal were evaluated for their ease of pulping, using two delignification processes (kraft and alkaline sulfite-anthraquinonemethanol (ASAM)). Morphologically, the stumpwood included fibers with a mean length of 0.930 mm, diameter of 21.4 μm, lumen width of 9.1 μm, and cell-wall thickness of 6.1 μm. Th...

AIMS To evaluate vibrotactile perception at different frequencies in fingers and in foot in healthy girls and boys. METHODS Vibration perception thresholds (VPTs) were measured in 283 healthy (8-20 years), consecutively included, girls (n=146) and boys (n=137); i.e., 269 children after excluding those with diseases or disorders possibly affecting the nervous system. Thresholds were measured i...

Sugarcane bagasse was delignified with alkali and peracetic acid in a two-stage process to obtain pulps with high yield and low kappa number. The experimental results indicated that alkali pretreatment prior to peracetic acid (PAA) delignification could significantly reduce PAA loading by partially removing lignin and swelling the fibers. An optimum condition for the two-stage delignification w...

This study aimed to compare the antioxidant content and antioxidant capacity of pulp and peel of two varieties of pomelo fruit (Tambun White and Tambun Pink). Antioxidants including total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and ascorbic acid content were determined using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent assay, aluminium chloride colorimetric assay and AOAC method, respectively. Antioxidant capacit...

The effects of multiple xylanase treatments were assessed during the peroxide bleaching of three pulps: Douglas-fir (kraft); Western hemlock (oxygen delignified kraft); and trembling Aspen (kraft). The addition of a xylanase treatment stage, either before or after the peroxide bleaching stage(s), resulted in the enhanced brightening of all pulps. A higher brightness was achieved using two enzym...

With an annual production of some 3.5 million tons between 1990 and 1995, dissolving wood pulp accounts for only 2% of the total wood pulp production. However, the high demands for cellulose purity and reactivity as well as its manifold routes of utilization are the reason for the advanced state of technology within the pulp industry. For dissolving pulp production, only acid sulfite and prehyd...