Título:	High-kappa Eucalyptus kraft pulp in a biorefinery context: balancing sugar production with fiber-reinforcement potential.
Autor:	ROCHA, C. F. LENGOWSKI, E. C. SAMPAIO, N. M. F. M. NASCIMENTO, P. T. H. do ZANONI, P. R. S. OLIVEIRA, P. R. de MAGALHAES, W. L. E. FONTANA, J. D. JÚNIOR, E. A. B.
Afiliación:	CLARISSA FLEURY ROCHA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL TECNOLÓGICA DO PARANÁ; ELAINE CRISTINA LENGOWSKI, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO MATO GROSSO; NAIARA MARIANA FIORI MONTEIRO SAMPAIO, BRAZILIAN BIORENEWABLES NATIONAL LABORATORY; PRISCILA TIEMI HIGUTI DO NASCIMENTO, UNIVERSITY OF ALBERTA; PATRICIA RAQUEL SILVA ZANONI, CNPF; PAULO ROBERTO DE OLIVEIRA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL TECNOLÓGICA DO PARANÁ; WASHINGTON LUIZ ESTEVES MAGALHAES, CNPF; JOSÉ DOMINGOS FONTANA, UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL TECNOLÓGICA DO PARANÁ; ERALDO ANTONIO BONFATTI JÚNIOR, UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO.
Año:	2026
Referencia:	Forests, v. 17, n. 3, 358, p. 1-14, 2026.
Descripción:	To establish a biorefinery within kraft-pulp mills, the extraction of fermentable sugars must be balanced with the preservation of fiber quality for papermaking. This study investigates this trade-off by applying partial enzymatic hydrolysis to unbleached high-kappa eucalyptus kraft pulp to co-produce bioethanol and packaging-grade materials. Although the mass-transfer limitations inherent to the high-consistency strategy (15% solids or 150 g L−1) restrict extensive saccharification (keeping glucose conversion below 5% at 1.5 h), it naturally directs the process toward a low-severity regime essential for fiber conservation. Structural analysis (X-ray diffraction and microscopy) revealed that enzymes preferentially targeted amorphous regions, increasing crystallinity (from ≈74% to ≈82%) but reducing intrinsic fiber strength (tear) over time (dropping from ~5.6 to ~2.3 mN·m2·g−1 within 30 min). However, a strategic window for valorization has been identified. Instead of direct papermaking, hydrolyzed residue is highly effective as a strength-enhancing additive. When blended (20% w w−1) with commercial pulp, the modified fibers improved interfiber bonding, restored the tensile strength, and significantly increased the Burst Index (up to ~1.7 kPa·m2·g−1). These results demonstrate a viable industrial approach using partial hydrolysis to recover hemicellulose-based sugars for biofuels, while transforming the solid fraction into a high-performance reinforcement agent for paper packaging. This approach effectively converts a potential trade-off into a synergistic dual-product stream.
Thesagro:	Celulose Papel Embalagem Polimerização Cristalização Biotecnologia
NAL Thesaurus:	Enzymatic hydrolysis Paper Packaging Polymerization Biotechnology
Palabras clave:	Hidrólise enzimática Propriedades do papel
ISSN:	1999-4907
DOI:	https://doi.org/10.3390/f17030358
Tipo de Material:	Artigo de periódico
Acceso:	openAccess
Aparece en las colecciones:	Artigo em periódico indexado (CNPF)