StickAway®

Lipases break down triglycerides in wood pitch. Esterases reduce the tackiness of stickies in recycled fiber. The result is reduced deposits on wires, felts, rolls and cans.

In mechanical pulp processes, triglycerides and resins are released and remain with the pulp. These substances can cause serious problems in paper and board production. They accumulate and form pitch deposits on wires, felts, rolls and dryer cans and even carry into the final product. The result is more frequent shutdowns and inferior paper quality. Lipases selectively degrade triglycerides into mono- and di-glycerides and free fatty acids. The free fatty acids can be washed away from the pulp or anchored onto the fibers by use of alum or other fixatives. 

Lipase treatment significantly reduces the level of pitch deposition on the paper machine. It also reduces the number of defects on the paper web.  Treating mechanical pulps with lipases can also remove triglycerides from fiber surfaces. The result is improved interfiber bonding. That allows paper mills to avoid or reduce the use of costly chemical pulp fibers for supplemental strength.

Most mills that consume recovered fiber experience problems with stickies. Sources of stickies include pressure-sensitive adhesives, hot melts, waxes and binders. As the name suggests, stickies are tacky particles. That means they have a tendency to agglomerate.  When small and dispersed, stickies are relatively benign. However, stickies can rapidly agglomerate into larger particles with unique surface properties. At a certain point, these particles form deposits on paper mill process equipment and finished product. 

Stickies often contain significant amounts of polyvinyl acetate or acrylate. Esterase enzymes target these esters in the particles, modifying their surface to reduce stickiness. The result is reduced potential for agglomeration and lower levels of macro stickies.