Biopulping and Biobleaching by White Rot Fungi

Abstract

The potentials of white-rot fungi namely <i>Coriouls versicolor </i>NRRL 6102, <i>Phanerochaete chrysosporium </i>NRRL 6359, <i>P. chrysosporium </i>NRRL 6361 and <i>P. chrysosporium </i>NRRL 6370 are evaluated for brightness of banana waste. The banana fruit stalk is used as a sale carbon source under sterilized solid state fermentation (SSF) at 35°C for one month. Of these, <i>P. chrysosporium </i>NRRL 6370 cultured supported maximum brightness (30.5 per cent than under control 117.8 per cent). This fungus degrades lignin and hemicellulose with does not effect on cellulose fibres (55.4 per cent than under control 40.01 per cent). The three useful types of paper are prepared from biopuling banana fruit stalk. The two types of them are bleached by hydrogen peroxide (writing and printing 40 S^oR and greasy paper 80-82 S^oR). While the board is prepared from unbleached biopulping in 25 S^oR. The strength properties of biopulping increases from 15-20 per cent for the hand-made sheet. Also the brightness is higher,. i.e., > 20 per cent than under control. Results show that biopulping controls yield and avoids losses in viscosity and strength properties.