Enzymes Reveal the Dead to be Living: Biofilm Stories From the Edge (Otherwise Called Pulp and Paper), 2002 Technology Summit Proceedings

V. M. King & M. T. Stoner

Biofilm phenomena are well known and understood in the paper industry. Most people feel that they have a clear understanding of what is a biofilm and what isn’t a biological phenomenon. The quality and runnability problems associated with biofilms are reviewed. Some recent work reveals that biofilm problems could be more prevalent than previously thought because some biological material is recalcitrant to protein determination techniques and is, therefore, misunderstood. Using enzyme treatment to study some biofilms from an alkaline fine paper machine has revealed some interesting microbiology and opened the door for successful treatment approaches. An ongoing one-year application of a stabilized enzyme product has solved the problem, which caused spots and slippage at the reel. The problem resulted in poor quality and rejection of paper by customers. Enzymes solved a problem that had been unsolved for more than five years.