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The application of ligninolytic bacteria and enzymes is a green pre-treatment alternative in the production of paper and biofuel from oil palm residues. In this study we investigated the ability of Lysinibacillus pakistanensis isolated from termite gut in degrading the lignin component of oil palm residues. The residues were biotreated with the bacterial strain in an aerated submerged fermentation system for 7 days at 30 , pH 7 and compared with untreated control. Enzyme activities were determined using specific substrates. Peak lignin peroxidase (377.6 U/L), manganese peroxidase (218.19 U/L), and laccase (405.4 U/L) activity were recorded after 4,4, and 5 days of incubation respectively, using oil palm leaf as substrates. Lignin loss of 4.5%, 5.7% and 6.6% in oil palm leaf, oil palm trunk and empty fruit bunch respectively was achieved after treatment with the microorganism. SEM images revealed structural changes in the cell wall of the residues. Pre-treatment with this bacterial strain has promising prospects of improving the efficiency of the pulping process in an environmentally safe manner. A aplicação de bactérias e enzimas ligninolíticas é uma alternativa verde de pré-tratamento na produção de papel e biocombustível a partir de resíduos de óleo de palma. Neste estudo, investigamos a capacidade de Lysinibacillus pakistanensis isolado do intestino de cupins na degradação do componente de lignina dos resíduos de dendê. Os resíduos foram biotratados com a estirpe bacteriana num sistema de fermentação submersa arejado durante 7 dias a 30ºC, pH 7 e comparados com controle não tratado. As atividades enzimáticas foram determinadas usando substratos específicos. Pico de lignina peroxidase (377,6 U/L), peroxidase de manganês (218,19 U/L) e atividade de lacase (405,4 U/L) foram registradas após 4,4 e 5 dias de incubação, respectivamente, utilizando como substratos a folha da palmeira de dendê. A perda de lignina de 4,5%, 5,7% e 6,6% na folha da palmeira, no tronco do dendezeiro e cacho de frutas vazio, respectivamente, foi alcançada após o tratamento com o microorganismo. Imagens de MEV revelaram alterações estruturais na parede celular dos resíduos. O pré-tratamento com esta cepa bacteriana tem perspectivas promissoras de melhorar a eficiência do processo de polpação de maneira ambientalmente segura.

Maximum utilization of lignocellulosic biomass is contingent upon degrading the recalcitrant lignin polymer. Conventional methods employed in delignification require high inputs of energy and chemicals, resulting in the release of highly toxic effluents. The ability of gut flora of Coptotermes curvignathus in lignin degradation was investigated in this study. Production of ligninolytic enzymes was done in an aerated submerged fermentation system with kraft lignin as sole carbon source. The degradation experiment was carried out for 7 days at 30 °C, pH 7. Three potential lignin degraders identified as Bacillus sp., Lysinibacillus sp. and Acinetobacter sp. were successfully isolated. The bacterial growth and secretion of extracellular ligninolytic enzymes confirmed metabolism of kraft lignin by the identified strains. Lysinibacillus sp., a novel lignin degrader showed highest manganese peroxidase (76.36 ± 15.74 U/L) and laccase activity (70.67 ± 16.82 U/L) after 7 and 6 days of incubation respectively, while maximal activity of lignin peroxidase (262.49 ± 0.92 U/L) was recorded after 7 days in culture supernatants of Bacillus sp. With respect to the activity of the secreted enzymes, the lignin degrading potential of these bacterial strains can be explored in the valorisations of lignocellulosic biomass in industrial processes such as pulping, bioethanol production, fine chemicals and materials synthesis.

This article presents experimental data on oil palm biomass (oil palm leaves, oil palm trunk and empty fruit bunch) handsheet production characterization by biodelignification treatment using Bacillus cereus extracted from termite gut (Coptotermus curvignathus). It associates the lignocellulose chemical composition obtained via technical association pulp and paper industry TAPPI T 222 om-02 testing on lignin content reduction determination, holocellulose and hemicellulose content determination (Kurscher-Hoffner method). Several data obtained for handsheet characterization presents brightness, opacity, contrast ratio, din transparency, thickness, bursting and tearing indexes are collected. Handsheet surface morphology was also observed on ratio of gaps differences between fiber bonding conducted using scanning electron microscope (SEM) and ImageJ software. The raw data findings supplement chemical composition analysis for both untreated and treated substrates on handsheet quality performance check as presented in the research article “Bio-Mechanical Pulping of Bacteria Pre-Treatment on Oil Palm Biomass for Handsheet Production” [1]. For understanding correlations into the difference among lignocellulose content composition which affect the handsheet formation and mechanical strength refer to article from this research [1]. This dataset is made publicly available for optimizing alternative waste material reuse in the pulp and paper industrial section.

Current pulp-processing in pulp and paper based industries are inefficient in removing the lignin as this compound is recalcitrant towards degradation. Transitioning from conventional pulping process into bio-delignification through utilisation of ligninase enzymes is one of the alternatives to improve the ability to fully utilize all components of wood to produce high quality fibres. Extensive research efforts have been focused on increase the production of ligninase enzymes from white rot fungi as a whole organism for industrial applications. However, enzymes activity produced from fungi are rather low as lignin modification is a secondary metabolism in which the enzyme only be expressed under particular conditions. Using genetic manipulations to incorporate genes associate for delignification isolated from different organisms such as tropical Asian wood-feeding insect into bacteria expression system will allow rapid enzyme production. This theoretical framework aims to produce an enzyme with high ligninase activity that will be used for removal of lignin during pulp-processing. These enzymes are thought to be more economically efficient in degrading lignin and involves less use of chemicals thus make this processing more environmentally friendly.Keywords: Biodelignification, Asian wood tropical insect, fungi, ligninase enzyme, bacterial expression system

The forest tree had become beneficial as the major source of raw materials for paper production. However, the main concern is the dwindling forest tree resources. Fibre substitution from non-wood sources can overcome this problem. The abundance of napier grass is characterized as agro waste material, and has a high potential to become one of the substitution fibres. The objective of this work was to analyse the chemical composition of napier grass and to investigate the morphological properties of napier grass fibre. The chemical composition of the fibre was analysed by the TAPPI test method, chlorination method and Kuchner–Hoffner method. The results indicate the potential of napier grass as a fibre. The napier grass morphology showed a condensed composition of fibre structure under a scanning electron microscope. This study of napier grass indicated the suitability for promoting the green technology in developing an eco-friendly product.

Proper waste management in Malaysia is needed for the organic wastes such as pineapple leaf and cassava peel where affects the increase the amount of solid waste dump into landfill. Thus, to overcome this problem agro waste material can be constructed in many production industries to commercialize the use of alternative fibre for the paper industry. The main objective of this study is to demonstrate the use of fibrous in pineapple leaf and cassava peel by production of alternative fibre based on chemical properties and surface morphology characteristic. This study conducted for the chemical composition by analysed by TAPPI Test method, Chlorination method and Kuchner-Hoffner method. Every chemical components analyse; Cellulose (Kuchner-Hoofner), Holocellulose (Chlorination method), Hemicellulose (Chlorination method), Hemicellulose, Ash content (T211-om-93), Lignin content (T222-om-98) and Sodium Hydroxide soluble (T203-om-88). The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe and determine the morphological characteristic of both crops. The result indicates that pineapple leaf more suitable for becoming an alternative fibre than cassava peels. Pineapple leaves have a high Holocellulose content (85.7%), cassava peels 66%, followed by Cellulose pineapple leaf (66.2%), cassava peels (37.9%). However, hemicellulose content in pineapple leaf (19.5%) less than cassava peels (37.0%). Lignin content of pineapple leaf is lower (4.2%) compared to cassava peels (7.52%) in this study. From SEM images, cassava peel contained abundance fibre such as hemicellulose and cellulose that is held by the lignin in it and Pineapple leaves give a condensed composition of fibre structure. The chemical compositions and morphology study of pineapple leaf and cassava indicate pineapple leaf have a high percentage to be used as an alternative pulp in paper making industry, promoting the green technology. However, cassava peels make some of properties that can also be through for the paper industry.

Due to a shortage of wood source fibre in paper making industrys interest to agriculture residues fibre as a potential fibre sources in this industry. In this situation, importance has been developing in the paper industry from agriculture residue that will replace the wood fibre. Cocoa pod husk and Corn stalk are agriculture residues, which is good materials for paper production. The objectives of this study are to investigate the chemical characterization and surface morphology structure of these materials. The main components of materials which are cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and ash content were parameters that involved in determination of chemical characterization in this study. The determination of chemical composition was accordance to Kurshner-Hoffner approach (cellulose), Chlorine Method (hemicellulose), T 222 om-06 (lignin) and T 211 om-07 (ash content). Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface structure of materials. From results obtained, corn stalk shows the higher amount in cellulose (39%) and hemicellulose (42%) content compared to the cocoa pod husk. In addition, lower lignin content also obtained in Corn stalk (7.3%) rather than that Cocoa pod husk (14.7%). From Scanning electron microscopy images, Corn stalk and Cocoa pod husk contained abundance lignocellulosic and rough surface structure due to the untreated materials. The result either chemical characterization or surface morphology that obtained in Corn stalk and Cocoa pod husk fibre wastes can be used successfully as an alternative fibres sources in papermaking application.

Malaysia is a country that is a rich source of agricultural waste material. Three different crops were studied here, including pineapple (Ananas comosus) leaf, corn (Zea mays) stalk, and Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum). These crops are characterized as agricultural waste materials in Malaysia and have a high potential to be used as alternative fibers for the paper making industry. The objective of this work was to analyze the chemical composition of pineapple leaf, corn stalk, and Napier grass and to investigate the fiber morphology of these crops. The chemical components analyzed include the following: cellulose (Kurshner-Hoffner method), holocellulose (chlorination method), hemicellulose (chlorination method), ash content (TAPPI method T211-om-93), lignin content (TAPPI method T222-om-98), and soluble sodium hydroxide (TAPPI method T203-om-98). All handsheets morphologies were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Results indicated each crop has the potential for use as a fiber in paper making. SEM images indicated a condensed composition of the fiber structure. The observed chemical composition and morphology of these three crops indicate their suitability for use as fiber sources for the paper industry.

The increasing demand in wood fibre consumptions especially in pulp and paper making has pushed forward the search for alternative fibre resources. Non-woods derived fibre could be good candidates due to its abundance availability. The objective of this study is to determine the potential of non-wood plants as alternative fibres for pulp and paper-based industries based on its chemical and physical properties. The chemical properties involved in this study (cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, hot water and 1 % NaOH solubilities and ash contents) were determined according to relevant TAPPI test, Kurscher-Hoffner and Chlorite methods. Meanwhile, the physical properties (fibre length and diameter) were determined according to the Franklin method. In order to propose the suitability of the studied non-wood plants as alternative fibre resources in pulp and paper-based industries, the obtained results are compared to properties of published wood resources. Results show that lignin content (5.67 %) and 1 % NaOH solubility (19.64 %) of cogon grass are the lowest compared to cocoa pod husk and oil palm leaf. These contents influenced the production of higher pulp yield. Although cogon grass contains short fibres length than oil palm leaf, the paper product will have higher strength due to the good inter-fibre bonding. This study conclude, based on the chemical and physical properties, the cogon grass, cocoa pod husk, and oil palm leaf are suitable to be used as alternative fibre resources in pulp and paper-based industries with various applications such papers, boxes and craft materials.