MODIFICATION OF XYLAN
First Claim
1. A method of adsorbing xylan onto a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
- enzymatically modifying xylan which contains glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains so that it has reduced solubility in water compared to naturally occurring xylan, by selectively removing glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains with one or both of α
-D-glucuronidase and α
-L-arabinofuranosidase; and
allowing the modified xylan to adsorb onto the substrate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention provides a method of modifying soluble xylan which contains glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains so that it can be adsorbed onto other substrates. The method includes the steps of enzymatically modifying the xylan by selectively removing glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains from the xylan with α-D-glucuronidase and/or α-L-arabinofuranosidase, and allowing the modified xylan to adsorb onto the substrate. The substrate may be a cellulosic substrate like pulp or paper or a non-cellulosic substrate. The enzymes are able to remove a sufficient number of the xylan side chains so as to decrease water solubility of the xylan, induce xylan precipitation and allow adsorption of the xylan onto other substrates. A pulping process which incorporates modification of xylan and adsorption onto cellulosic material is also provided, as are products which contain the modified xylan.
55 Citations
41 Claims
-
1. A method of adsorbing xylan onto a substrate, the method comprising the steps of:
-
enzymatically modifying xylan which contains glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains so that it has reduced solubility in water compared to naturally occurring xylan, by selectively removing glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains with one or both of α
-D-glucuronidase and α
-L-arabinofuranosidase; andallowing the modified xylan to adsorb onto the substrate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
11. (canceled)
-
12. (canceled)
-
13. (canceled)
-
18-35. -35. (canceled)
-
36. A pulping process which includes a xylan adsorption step, the xylan adsorption step comprising the steps of:
-
adding xylan which contains glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains to a pulp composition; enzymatically modifying the xylan so that it has reduced solubility in water compared to naturally occurring xylan by selectively removing the glucuronic acid and/or arabinose side chains with one or both of α
-D-glucuronidase and α
-L-arabinofuranosidase; andallowing the modified xylan to adsorb onto the pulp in the pulp composition. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
-
Specification