Synergistic effect of cellulo-xylanolytic and laccase enzyme consortia for improved deinking of waste papers.

• Enhanced cellulo-xylanolytic consortium production from Hypocrea lixii GGRK4 using MOGA-ANN is reported. • The production of CMCase (9.43 fold) and xylanase (4.40 fold) higher than un-optimized process. • The improved deinking efficiency and brightness is reported for photocopier paper and newspaper. • The physical strength of the waste papers were enhanced whereas double fold property was decreased proving its reusability. • A significant fungal enzyme consortium preparation for improved waste paper deinking achieved. This study reports the cellulo-xylanolytic cocktail production from Hypocrea lixii GGRK4 using multi-objective genetic algorithm-artificial neural network tool, resulting in 8.32 ± 1.07 IU/mL, 51.53 ± 3.78 IU/mL activity of CMCase and xylanase, respectively with more than 85 % residual activity at 60 °C and pH 6.0. Interestingly, metal ions viz. K+ and Ca2+ stimulated the enzyme activity, whereas Fe2+ and Cu2+ reduced the activity. Significant amounts of hydrophobic compounds, chromophores, and phenolics were released after wastepapers deinking. The deinking efficiency of 73.60 ± 2.45 % and 38.60 ± 1.34 % was obtained for photocopier paper and newspaper, respectively, whereas brightness of 89.90 ± 2.10 % ISO and 44.90 ± 1.63 % ISO was reported for both types of waste papers. The physical strength of deinked photocopier paper and newspapers, i.e., tensile index (3.10 and 0.50 %), tearing index (7.10 and 4.83 %), and burst factor (8.61) were enhanced whereas double fold property was decreased proving wastepaper reusability. This consortium showed effective and significant enzymatic deinking efficiency for recycled wastepapers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]