Biological Bleaching of Wood Pulps – A Viable Chlorine-Free Bleaching Technology?

Biobleaching of wood pulp is bleaching caused by the activity of certain microorganisms. The term “biobleaching” is sometimes also used to describe enzymatic bleaching. In both cases, the aim is to effect bleaching without the use of chlorine, thus minimising the discharge of potentially toxic and mutagenic chlorinated organics in bleach plant effluents. In this paper, the current status of biobleaching research is reviewed and factors necessitating further investigation before biobleaching might be viable on a commercial basis are highlighted.