The role of xylanases and laccases on hexenuronic acid and lignin removal

The variation of the contents in hexenuronic acids (HexA) and lignin in Eucalyptus kraft pulp during sequences with the laccase–mediator treatment with or without xylanase pretreatment was studied. The laccase–HBT system (HBT: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole) initially oxidized lignin alone but altered cellulose in the pulp as well after some time. Once all accessible lignin was removed, the system acted on HexA. As a result, the laccase–mediator treatment reduced the HexA content of the pulp, especially if a xylanase pretreatment was applied before. A previously unseen effect was observed here: HexA removal was found to depend on the laccase and HBT doses, but not on the reaction time. In addition, the xylanase pretreatment was found to strongly boost the effects of the laccase–HBT system by facilitating their access to HexA without affecting the lignin content.