Abstract:
A prebleach treatment of pulp with xylanase enzyme prior to chemical bleaching is disclosed. A process of making pulp comprises treating a pulp with xylanase in an amount of less than 50 g of xylanase per ton of pulp. The treating step is carried while buffering the pulp and xylanase with a buffering agent to a pH of from about 6.5 to about 7.5 prior to at least one bleaching stage to form a treated pulp.